Chapter 1

Every wound my maid, Bianca Frost, took for my childhood sweetheart was a lie.

The agonizing pain, the kind that eats at your marrow, was inflicted entirely on me.

I was plagued by constant agony, wasting away in bed for years.

She used this supposed life-saving sacrifice to gain favor with Caleb, eventually standing as my equal in his heart.

When I coughed up blood and finally told him the truth, his eyes burned with a scorching fury.

"Are you having fun pretending to be sick?" he sneered.

"Bianca saved my life. Drop your petty socialite schemes. I don't believe a word you say."

It wasn't until Bianca took a sword through the heart for him that the entire army wept for her.

No one knew that in a dark corner of the command tent, I died in sheer agony.

My blood soaked through three layers of silk blankets as I drew my last breath.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Bianca first tried to take a hit for him.

As she moved to jump in front of him, I raised my hand and signaled my guards to seize her.

"General Sterling is my childhood friend. This life-saving favor…"

I stepped forward and smirked at her.

"I'm taking it for myself."

1

Bianca Frost tripped and fell not far away.

Instantly, a bone-deep, agonizing pain surged through my entire body.

I shuddered violently as the memories of my past life flashed before my eyes like a horror movie.

In that life, I was the crown jewel of the Vance family, a princess in all but name.

My father would have plucked the stars from the sky if I asked.

When Caleb Sterling was ordered to the front lines, I was consumed by worry.

I ignored all warnings and disguised myself, taking only Bianca and my shadow guards to follow him into the war zone.

I never expected that once we reached the border, Bianca would repeatedly throw herself in harm's way to save Caleb.

Every time she was hurt, I felt the pain in my very soul.

I became bedridden and frail, yet the army doctors couldn't find a single thing wrong with me.

When I first suspected Bianca and pointed the finger at her, she already held a massive influence over Caleb.

He looked at me with nothing but cold impatience, his words cutting deeper than any blade.

"Seraphina, I'm begging you, leave me alone and leave Bianca alone!"

"We are made of flesh and blood. We can't handle your constant harassment and jealousy."

"I know you can't stand sharing the spotlight, but she saved my life! Do you expect me to abandon a wounded hero just to play house with you?"

"This is a battlefield, not some game in your daddy's mansion!"

I stared at him, feeling like I'd been struck by lightning.

In his eyes, I had become a wicked woman who faked illnesses to grab attention.

Later, Bianca took more and more wounds for him.

I coughed up blood every day until even standing up became a luxury.

Caleb eventually told everyone, "The Princess is just faking. Ignore her. I'll deal with her father when we get back."

When Bianca finally took that sword through the heart for him, I felt my own life force erupt from my chest.

My shadow guards searched for a doctor, but Caleb had redirected every medic to save Bianca.

I died in that bed, screaming in silence from a pain no one believed in.

He threw my body into the deep woods like trash and silenced my guards.

Later, he lied to my father, saying I disappeared after being ambushed by bandits.

He then used his military glory as a dowry to marry Bianca.

My nails dug deep into my palms, the hatred nearly consuming me.

I won't accept this!

They destroyed me and lived happily ever after? Why!

I opened my eyes, and it was the exact day Bianca was supposed to take her first wound for Caleb.

"Seize her," I commanded coldly. My shadow guards instantly pinned Bianca down.

I walked up slowly, knelt, and lifted her panicked face with my finger.

"Princess… what… what is the meaning of this?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

I let go and let a cold smile curl on my lips. "I'm worried about General Sterling's safety. I've decided to protect him myself."

"As for you, you're weak and useless. I'm afraid you'll just get in the way. Stay here and wait."