Chapter 2

2

A flash of surprise crossed Wrenna's face, but she quickly hid it behind her favorite excuse. "I only do what I can in the moment. If I don't help, I won't be able to sleep at night."

I smiled. "I'm also doing what I can in the moment. If I don't act, I'll have nightmares about being butchered."

The male lead, Xavion, was settled in Wrenna's courtyard. My parents tried to talk to her several times, saying that her reputation would be ruined if word got out. How would she ever find a husband?

Wrenna didn't care. "I brought him back, so I will take care of him personally. I won't let any 'malicious' people get near him."

My father had said she needed to learn a lesson, but it seemed he was still too soft. This only made her more defiant.

This confirmed my suspicion. Wrenna knew her identity, but she didn't know the full details of the plot.

I secretly had someone retrieve the arrow taken from Xavion's body. Just as I thought, the fletching was marked with the seal of the Royal Shadow Guard.

I couldn't move against Xavion yet. He had already sent signals to his subordinates on the way here. Those men were ruthless and deeply connected to the rebel factions. It was only a matter of time before they tracked the signal to our door.

If I killed Xavion now, those desperate men would surely retaliate and destroy the Sterling family. But that didn't mean I couldn't make things difficult for Wrenna.

The next day, while my father was home for the weekend, I knocked on his study door.

"Father, these are the household expenses from over the years. Please take a look."

My father, who was in his fifties and very dignified, skimmed the ledgers. His brow furrowed deeply. Suddenly, he slammed the book onto the desk, his voice filled with indignation. "Has your mother seen this?"

In the past, the ledger only showed Wrenna spending money to buy fish and turtles to release into the river for 'karma.' Now, she was spending hundreds of gold pieces every day on expensive medicine for Xavion. All of it was coming from the family's main accounts, not her own pocket.

I shook my head. "Mother loves sister too much. The estate's accounts are seriously depleted, but Mother would sell her manors and jewelry just to support whatever sister wants to do."

My father's expression hardened. He muttered something about her being foolish and then instructed the butler to cut off Wrenna's monthly allowance immediately.

Xavion was currently at a critical stage where he needed expensive ginseng and spirit herbs to stay alive. Cutting off the funds would drive Wrenna insane.

Sure enough, the money was cut in the morning, and by the afternoon, Wrenna was humiliated at the apothecary.

The doctor gave a strained smile. "Miss Sterling, your butler said that from now on, you have to pay for the medicine yourself."

"How is that possible? He's just a butler. Since when does he get to tell me what to do?" Wrenna was furious and told her maid to bring the butler for a scolding.

The butler quickly explained that it was the General's orders and he couldn't do anything about it.

The doctor couldn't help but urge her, "Miss Sterling, I have other patients to see. The payment..."

Wrenna's face turned ugly. She had some savings, but how many days could she last when the medicine cost hundreds of gold pieces every day?

After painfully paying the bill, she couldn't contain herself at dinner. "Father! I used to wonder where Rowan got her cold heart from. Now I see she takes after you!"

"Saving a life is the greatest virtue! You've killed so many people as a General. I'm trying to help you earn some divine mercy! It's one thing for Rowan to be ignorant, but how could you be like this too?"

Her words grew uglier. Even my mother had to tell her to stop.

My father's face was dark. He slammed the table. "If you don't want to eat, go back to your room!"

Wrenna had never been treated this way. Her eyes turned red, and she threw her chopsticks onto the table. "Fine! I won't eat!"

As she stormed off, my mother sighed and whispered, "She's such a kind child. Why does she act like this the moment things don't go her way?"

Wrenna struggled for a few days, and just as she was about to run out of money, a turning point appeared.

She brought a man back to the estate, claiming he was a miracle doctor.

The man looked elegant, like some sort of immortal sage. But as he passed me, his narrow eyes flickered with a cold, sinister light. He gave me a chilling look before following the servants inside.

My pupils contracted. This was the man who would tell Wrenna to steal the royal treasure. He was also the one who would suggest shredding our family to death in the original story!

"Rowan, I found a miracle doctor. He won't charge a single cent to treat Xavion. Your little plan failed. Are you disappointed? Why can't you just admit you're a selfish brat?"

I looked at Wrenna calmly and walked away.

The more someone lacks something, the more they try to prove they have it. It looked like Wrenna would be heading to the palace to steal that treasure very soon.

Wrenna herself didn't know martial arts, but she had been doing strange, reckless things since she was young. Like the time she went alone to a disaster zone to hand out bread, which caused a massive riot.