Chapter 1

The day the exam rankings are released and I claim the top spot is also my older sister's birthday.

During the birthday party, everyone asks what she wishes for. She turns her head and looks straight at my fiance, her red lips curving into a smile.

"I want first place. Can you give it to me, Professor Howard?"

The man lowers his eyes, saying nothing.

The next day, my name disappears from the top of the rankings. After that, I fail to place five times in a row.

When I confront my fiance, he simply hands me a slice of sponge cake and says, "Your sister has it hard. If she can't place first at Imperial Academy five consecutive times, she'll be forced into an arranged marriage with that crippled prince. As for you, you'll have other chances in the future."

What he doesn't know is that I have no future left to wait for.

As an illegitimate daughter, my engagement only exists because my mother sacrificed her life to secure it for me.

Now, my mother is gone. And because my sister falls in love with my fiance, she makes my life miserable.

To keep up appearances, my father allows my sister to propose a wager before the family council. If she can remain the academy's top-ranked student for five consecutive years, she will be allowed to take my place in the marriage.

For that reason, I study by candlelight night after night, terrified of losing my fiance.

But now, I rub the thick calluses on my palms.

With a bitter laugh, I accept my fate.

Chapter 1

I said, "So, that's how it is. I understand now."

Lowering my gaze, I stepped back, putting more distance between myself and my fiance, Glenn Howard.

"You should save this sponge cake for Amelia, then. After all, she's the one who's going to be your wife."

My words stunned him for a moment. Then, he frowned and angrily said, "Victoria, there's a limit to how jealous you can be. There has never been anything inappropriate between me and Amy."

Of course. Glenn was a refined gentleman who often helped young women from poor families find respectable occupations, changing countless lives in the process. Everyone praised his kindness and integrity. And at first, I thought he was simply trying to help my sister, Amelia Ashworth, too.

But he called me "Victoria", while he called her "Amy".

I didn't want to hear any more explanations. I bowed politely and turned to leave. But the moment my back was to him, tears welled in my eyes.

We had grown up together, with ten years of friendship between us. Giving it all up now made my heart ache. But I never looked back.

Before long, I found my father, Gideon Ashworth, and his wife, Penelope Kensington, waiting in the main hall.

When they saw me, they called me over warmly. The gifts they held, however, were all intended for Amelia.

Knowing I had never been the favored daughter, I stayed silent and waited for the ending that had long since been decided.

Amelia forcefully titled my chin up and extended her hand. "You lost. Honor the wager, and handover Glenn's engagement token."

I had prepared myself for this. I took out the gold locket that had been in my possession for years.

For the first time, Father looked guilty. Clearing his throat, he offered what he considered as compensation.

"Prince Colin's wedding procession will arrive on the third of next month. Since you love studying so much, you may remain at Imperial Academy a little longer."

Seven days was far too short. Yet, they would be my last few days at Imperial Academy.

"Thank you, Father."

At least they weren't dragging me home immediately to get married, right?

When I stepped outside, the sun was shining brightly. Just like every other day the exam rankings came out, the weather was beautiful.

Yet, all I felt was cold.

By the time I collected my thoughts, all the students had already gathered at the central courtyard.

A young woman passing by grabbed my arm and pulled me over.

"Well, if it isn't Victoria Ashworth, the student who dominated the Imperial Academy rankings for three straight years, yet somehow lost first place five times in a row. Why do you look so devastated?"

Her mockery was sympathy in disguise. My expression remained unchanged.

Then, one of Amelia's friends shoved me hard, saying, "Amelia felt sorry for you and was willing to let you have first place once. Now, hurry up and catch the bow. The prize was donated by Professor Howard himself."

After every examination period, the academy held a competition. Whoever could hit an apple from ten yards away would win a prize.

The last five times I'd lost the rankings, I'd never participated. But that day, a bow was forced into my hands.

Amidst the taunting stares around me, I slowly drew the string.

Once I married, pursuing a public career would require my husband's approval. Perhaps, this would be my last chance. So, I took it seriously.

I pulled the bowstring back. It suddenly snapped and tore across my hand, splitting the skin between my thumb and index finger.

The sharp pain had barely registered when a hard slap landed on my face.

Amelia pointed at the arrow that had landed near her feet, then threw herself into Glenn's arms.

"Professor Howard, Victoria has gone too far. Just because she lost five times, it doesn't mean that she can try to kill me!"

Stunned, I looked up at Glenn. His eyes, which were once so warm and gentle, met mine. I opened my mouth, wanting to say, "I didn't."

But he cut me off before I could speak, his voice as cold as ice.

"As a student, you've allowed your jealousy to endanger a fellow classmate. You will receive 20 strokes of the cane. And tonight, you will not be allowed dinner."

Chapter 2

The moment the punishment was handed down, the entire courtyard fell into silence.

Anyone with eyes could see there had been something wrong with the bow Amelia had given me. But no one was willing to stand up for an illegitimate daughter.

An attendant brought over a cane. Slowly, I raised my palm which was still dripping with blood. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Glenn, hoping that the sight of blood would make him see the truth.

Instead, Amelia pouted, her eyes red. "I scraped my wrist when I drew the bow just now. Professor Howard, will you blow on it for me?"

While he blew on the faintest reddened mark on her skin, the cane struck directly across my wound.

Red filled my vision. I endured the pain silently and left without saying a single word. Later, I bandaged the wound and pulled my sleeve down to hide it.

That afternoon, the first lecture was Glenn's class. Despite my reluctance, I still went. After all, he was a respected scholar, and his lessons were genuinely beneficial.

At worst, I could just forget the past and think of him as my future brother-in-law.

Once seated, I resumed my usual composure. I listened in class and took notes. After class ended, I was called over by the headmaster.

"Victoria, I know you've been bullied a few times. My authority only extends so far, but I can offer you a position as a librarian."

Headmaster Whittaker had once been Glenn's tutor. He had watched me grow up. Now, his hair was completely grey, and his eyes carried a trace of helplessness toward his former pupil, and deep guilt toward me.

I shook my head and smiled. "I'm fine. Thank you for the opportunity, Headmaster Whittaker."

I no longer cared about Glenn. But I was grateful to Headmaster Whittaker. He knew how much I loved books and had found a way for me to remain in Imperial Academy.

Walking back, my steps felt lighter. The dread of being forced to leave in seven days had faded.

A librarian was a modest position, but it was still an official post.

For the next two days, I avoided Glenn's lectures and holed myself up in the library.

Perhaps Amelia had grown bored or learned that I was still allowed to remain at the academy. She came to me, furious, pulled several books from the shelves, and began tearing them apart.

"Victoria, don't think you can stay here and continue seducing Glenn!"

Her eyes blazed with anger as she ripped through several priceless, one-of-a-kind books. Those were also Glenn's favorite books.

As expected, I soon saw him hurrying over after hearing the commotion. Amelia instantly rubbed her eyes, picked up the torn pages, and burst into tears.

"Victoria, if you're upset and want to avoid Professor Howard's lectures, that's fine. But why did you have to destroy his precious books?"

I said nothing. But beside me, a library assistant slammed the table angrily and roared, "Nonsense! You tore those books yourself! I heard you threatening Victoria and telling her she wasn't allowed to stay here!"

This time, there was a witness. So, I said calmly, "It wasn't me."

I thought Glenn might be fair for once.

But Amelia sniffled. "You're both working together. Of course you would say that."

Just like that, Glenn's expression hardened. "Why would Amy frame you?"

In his eyes, I was an illegitimate daughter that possessed nothing worth envying, and nothing worth plotting against.

Touching the ruined books, he looked at me with cold disappointment. "If you can't perform your duties as librarian well, then you should give up the position."

With just one sentence, my last chance to remain at Imperial Academy vanished.

"Glenn?" My voice was weak, and my eyes uncontrollably filled with tears.

The library assistant tried to protest again, only to be stripped of his own post as well.

"You will no longer return to Imperial Academy."

The young man's face turned deathly pale. For the past two days, he had laughed and chatted with me. Now, he gave a bitter laugh, tossed down the book in his hands, and walked away.

"Everyone says Professor Howard is a righteous man of integrity. Seeing him now, I guess they were mistaken."

He strode off without looking back. Then, halfway to the door, he turned to me and asked, "Are you coming?"

With my fingers curled tightly at my sides, I shook my head. "No."

My chance to stay was gone. The least I could do was cherish my final days here, right?

Besides, there was no point demanding an explanation from Glenn anymore.

Chapter 3

I handed over the library keys and brushed past Glenn and Amelia.

Outside, the sun was blinding. I lifted a hand to shield my eyes.

I thought I would cry again. But when I touched my face, my skin was dry. It seemed that Glenn could no longer make me cry.

Then came the day Imperial Academy rearranged the seating according to rank.

My seat had always been in the front. Even during the last five times when Amelia had ranked first, Glenn had left me where I was out of consideration for our past.

Now, however, he was angry. He personally carried my nameplate to the very back of the hall and set it in the filthiest corner. That seat was reserved for students who were lazy or notorious for poor conduct.

In the past, no one had ever been made to sit there. By doing this, Glenn was publicly declaring that I was that kind of person. As a head professor at Imperial Academy, no one dared to question him.

Crude remarks and snide insults, along with fruit peels and trash, were hurled at me. By the time class ended, my books were buried beneath a mess of filth.

At the front of the room, Glenn lectured eloquently. At the end of the class, he looked down at me and asked, "Victoria, do you understand what you've done wrong?"

"Was it that I exposed your feelings for Amelia despite your refusal to admit it? Or are you just blind to right and wrong?"

I didn't know when Glenn had changed so completely. But I did know one thing—I would never confess to something I hadn't done.

"Victoria! I've told you countless times that Amy is nothing more than my student. Why must you insist on imagining things? Apologize to Amy today about the books, and I'll let this incident go."

He seemed to think he was covering up for me.

I simply got up from my seat and turned to leave.

But he suddenly grabbed my wrist and sneered coldly. "As expected of an illegitimate child. You'll never possess the grace or dignity that your sister does."

This wasn't the usually gentle Glenn I had known. Each word he spoke pierced my heart like a blade.

"If your mother hadn't died saving my life, do you really think we would ever have been a suitable match?"

The ink bottle slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor.

He claimed that an illegitimate daughter was unworthy of him. But he clearly knew that Mother was a respectable woman.

Father had abducted her from her husband on her wedding night and forced himself upon her. That was how I came into this world.

I still remembered Glenn kneeling beside Mother's deathbed years ago. He had sworn that he would respect, protect, and love me for the rest of his life.

For ten years, I had used the savings Mother left behind to fund his education, helping him build the reputation he enjoyed that day. I helped him pursue his dream as a youth of creating opportunities for women who had none.

All this time, I thought he had simply fallen out of love with me and had a change of heart. I thought he was still the same gentle and kind man he always was.

But now, looking at him, he felt like a stranger.

Without realizing it, my nails dug into the bandaged wound on my hand. Blood seeped through the cloth and trickled down my fingertips.

Seeing my pale face, Glenn seemed to realize that he might've gone too far. Yet, in the end, he said nothing. Because a shout suddenly rang out from afar.

"Amelia has fallen into the lake!"

Perhaps I wanted to force myself to give up completely. Enduring the ache in my chest, I hurried over toward the lake.

Without a moment's hesitation, Glenn jumped into the water. He grabbed Amelia and pulled her tightly into his arms.

Amelia's friends immediately began squealing.

"Professor Howard, you're touching Amelia so intimately. You must take responsibility now!"

Everyone present knew that I was Glenn's rightful fiancee. But no one cared.

Amelia caught my gaze. Her eyes reddened and glistened with tears as she spoke. "Professor Howard is Victoria's fiance. How could I possibly come between them? Besides, I'd rather die than take second place to an illegitimate daughter!"

With that, she struggled to break free from Glenn's grasp, as though she were trying to throw herself back into the water. But Glenn tightened his grip, refusing to let her go.

A long silence ensued before he finally spoke. "I would never let you suffer such a fate."

Chapter 4

After sending Amelia home, Glenn came to find me, his clothes still damp from the lake.

"Amy is the eldest daughter of the family. She has her pride. Vic, can't you be a little more accommodating toward her?"

I agreed without hesitation, my expression calm. "Alright."

After all, the man I would ultimately marry had never been him.

Seeing the faint smile on my lips and the anger gone from my face, he let out a breath of relief and said, "Don't worry. Even if you enter my household as my other woman, I would never allow you to be mistreated."

With that, he hurried away with the medicine he had prepared, rushing off to Amelia's place.

I remained where I stood, watching his retreating figure. Memories from more than a decade surfaced one after another. It was then I suddenly realized that all these years, I had always been the one waiting.

I waited for him to finish his studies. I waited for him to fulfill his promise to bring me into Imperial Academy. I waited for him to marry me and bring me home.

Now, I no longer had to wait.

The next day, my seat was moved back to the front of the classroom.

Glenn entered carrying a stack of examination papers.

"Imperial Academy will soon select a student representative to appear before the king. The top candidate will be appointed directly to an official post," he announced.

If a woman secured an official post before marriage, it would be difficult for her husband's family to strip it away afterward even if they disapproved. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Every student in the room wanted it, myself included.

As I took the examination paper, I looked straight at Glenn and asked, "Professor Howard, this time, you'll be fair, right?"

He had promised me just five victories for Amelia.

Without hesitation, he gave a curt nod.

My anxiety slightly eased. I lowered my head and focused on the exam. This time, I poured everything I knew onto the page with full confidence, hoping to secure a future of my own.

But when it was time to submit my paper, I was horrified.

All the answers I had written down were gone. The papers were completely blank.

My grip tightened around the pen. I stood frozen as tears spilled down my cheeks.

"Glenn, was this your doing?"

He had told me that years ago, when he was still a student, someone had once sabotaged him with disappearing ink. The writing had vanished in half an hour, costing him the top ranking.

And that day, the pens and ink had all come directly from him.

I had never wanted to believe that he would use the very same cruel method against me. Yet, he calmly accepted the blank papers. His gaze shifted toward Amelia, soft with indulgence and affection.

"Amelia has always been ambitious. She insists on earning the appointment before you and entering my household as the mistress. Vic, you'll have other opportunities in the future."

With a few careless words, Glenn had destroyed the only future I had left.

Rage surged through me. Before I knew it, I raised my hand and slapped him hard. Then, I grabbed the bottle of disappearing ink and stormed into Headmaster Whittaker's study.

"Headmaster Whittaker, please help me!"

Glenn arrived moments later. He hurriedly bowed respectfully toward Headmaster Whittaker and the red-clad man seated beside him.

"Your Majesty, it was my mistake. I beg your forgiveness," Gelnn said as he reached for my arm, intending to drag me away.

The King swept his gaze over him lightly, then tapped the desk with a finger. "If a mistake occurred during the examination, then just let her retake it. Right here and right now."

Hearing that, Glenn's face darkened. He shot me a look of displeasure. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to provide fresh pens and ink.

Half an hour later, the King was reading my examination paper, laughing heartily.

"What extraordinary talent! Report to the palace for your immediate appointment on the 15th of next month."

He then turned to Glenn and patted him on the shoulder, smiling from ear to ear. "Professor Howard, it seems you've found your rival. Don't become complacent. I'd hate to see you be outshone by a young lady."

Ignoring Glenn's stiff and cold expression beside me, I let out a huge sigh of relief. Without saying another word, I turned and left, leaving him behind. And I never looked back.

That night, Amelia learned that the position she thought was already hers had slipped away. She flew into a rage. The next morning, she stormed into my room and trashed it, leaving it a mess.

Glenn stood in the doorway and witnessed everything with his own two eyes. Yet, all he did was sigh. He raised a hand, attempting to stroke my hair as he said, "Amy is just being childish. Don't hold it against her. During the Lights Festival, I'll take you to the city to see the lights."

For the past ten years, he always claimed that he was busy as an excuse not to attend the Lights Festival. And yet now, he was suddenly willing to offer it.

I was sure that his companionship was just to compensate for Amelia. Yet, it was the very dream I had once cherished.

For a brief moment, I was tempted to say yes, just to make up for ten years of disappointment. But in the end, I turned my head away.

The Lights Festival fell on the third of the next month—the same day I was to be married by imperial decree. Even if I attended the festival next month, the man beside me would be the man I married, not Glenn.

I said nothing, but Glenn took my silence as agreement. Then, he immediately ordered that I be confined for three days for "bullying a fellow student and showing no remorse".

"Vic," he said, "Amy agreed to let me take you to the Lights Festival on one condition. You must be confined for three days to appease her. After all, she is going to be the mistress of my house. I have to make her feel secure."

I nodded quietly.

But I never made it to the confinement room. Because Father's messenger arrived first.

"Prince Colin is critically ill. His Majesty has ordered an immediate wedding before it is too late. You must return home and depart at once!"