Lady Sylvia threw herself at my father’s feet, pleading. “My lord, it is all my fault! I beg you, for the sake of your own flesh and blood,
spare her this once!”
My mother’s eyes, fixed on Lady Sylvia, seemed to burn with fire. Isabelle had not only ruined her own reputation but had stained
the honor of every young woman in our house.
“Lady Sylvia, Isabelle has only two paths now,” my mother said, her voice cold. “She can take her own life to preserve her honor, or
she can be sent to a nunnery.”
“No! Father, Mother, I don’t want to die! I am still a maiden! Josh owes me a debt of gratitude; he will surely marry me!”
In that moment, Josh Atreides became Isabelle’s only lifeline.
Lady Sylvía knocked her head on the stone floor, over and over. “Your Grace, she is young and foolish. Please, give her one more chance.”
My mother’s eyes instantly reddened with tears of her own. “Lady Sylvia, you ache for your daughter, but what of my Eleonora’s
prospects? What of her future?”
With my station as the Duke’s eldest daughter, I should have married into a high–ranking noble house as its matriarch. Now, tainted by Isabelle’s scandal, if I wanted to be a first wife, I would have to marry down. Even then, I had lost the right to choose; I would be
at the mercy of whoever would have me.
My father’s expression slowly hardened. Though both were his daughters, there was no comparing a child of a mistress to his true-
Chapter 1
04:49
My father’s expression slowly hardened. Though both were his daughters, there was no comparing a child of a mistress to his true-
born heir.
Just as he was about to give the order to have Isabelle taken away, a servant rushed in to announce that General Kaelen had arriv-
ed at the gate to ask for a hand in marriage.
