On the very day of our tenth anniversary feast, I found my own sister in my husband’s bed. I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry. I just stood in the doorway and watched them.
Conrad looked up, saw me, and didn’t even have the decency to look ashamed. He just sighed, like I was the one inconveniencing him. “I only married you because Jana was going to study at the Royal Academy in the capital,” he said. “Honestly, you should be ashamed.
You’re so dull. No one could ever love you. ”
He threw a parchment at my feet. “This is the marriage annulment agreement.
Sign it. Get out of my chamber. ”
Ten years. Ten years of my life, all of it a lie.
I don’t remember how I got out of the castle. I only knew one person I could turn to. My mother. “Estella, do you know what hour it is?
” she snapped when I arrived at her door. “Mother, Conrad has betrayed me with Jana. I saw them with my own eyes. ”
“That’s it?
” She barely looked at me. “I’ve known for a long time. You were always just a placeholder. You’re not as witty as your sister, nor as beautiful.
All you do is clean and cook. That’s not a wife. That’s a servant. ”
“Why, Mother?
Why are you so unfair? ”
“It’s not that I’m unfair. It’s that you’re selfish. End this marriage quietly.
Be grateful that we feed you. You have no skills. You’ve never worked a day. Leave us and you won’t survive.
”
She closed the door in my face. I came to my mother for help, and she turned me down without hesitation. But I had nothing left to lose. I never had anything to begin with.
I went to the only friend I had left, Chloe. She was horrified when I told her everything. “My emergency savings, it’s yours. You can stay here as long as you want.
”
“I don’t need your money, Chloe. ”
“You’re mad. You’ve been a housewife for ten years. You have nothing.
”
“I have something. ”
I pulled out a folded letter. Chloe stared at it like it was a ghost. “This is a letter of recommendation from the royal head chef?
”
“Three years ago, I claimed to be on a retreat at the convent. I actually went to the capital. I apprenticed in the royal kitchen for three years. ”
“Estella, what in the heavens…?
”
I placed another document on the table. “Herbal remedy manual from the convent physician. Conrad suffered from digestive imbalance and anxiety. So I learned dietary therapy and constitution regulation.
”
“You did all this for him? ”
“A letter of recommendation from a royal academy lecture on the philosophy of mind? ” Chloe’s voice shook. “Estella, they shouldn’t have underestimated you.
”
“I only hope to find a proper job to support myself. ”
“I might know a job that’s perfect for you. A live-in steward at Winter’s Castle. ”
A few days later, I sat across from Eleanor Finch, the Winter family’s chief secretary.
She looked at my credentials, then back at me. “Your credentials are impressive. But you have a ten-year gap. What did you do before?
”
I hesitated. “I… I was a housewife. ”
She didn’t blink. “We’re going to rebuild your resume.
First of all, absolutely no mention of housewife. You were the private household steward for the Nieves family. You managed a household budget of thousands of gold coins. You didn’t just arrange banquets; you designed dietary treatments.
You managed a patient’s anxiety. You understand people. You know what they need before they ask. ”
She leaned forward.
“The Winter family has unique needs. Lady Winters wants to see your skills for herself. Tomorrow, go to the estate for a trial. Bring all your identity documents and letters of recommendation.
”
I took the parchment, my fingertips tingling. It wasn’t an offer yet, but it was the first crack of light through a long-closed door. Before I left, I returned to Nieves Castle to retrieve my identity documents. My brother-in-law, Conrad’s brother, met me in the hall.
“Take down those tapestries, too,” he said to a servant. Then he turned to me. “What are you doing here? Estella, don’t forget.
You have already been thrown away. You came back just for this pile of worthless scrap? ”
He snatched a painting from the wall—one I had kept, one that had belonged to my father. “Father’s things?
He can’t do anything about it now. ”
He dropped it. The frame cracked against the stone floor. I didn’t say a word.
I didn’t need to hate them. My future was in my own hands. Conrad caught me at the gate. “I’ve been looking for you for two days and nights.
Where do you think you’re going dressed like that? ”
“I’m going to apply for the position of live-in steward at Winter’s Castle. ”
His face twisted. “Estella, so you came back for your identity papers?
Just to apply as a servant? You’re low. How dare you work as a servant? You’re doing this to shame us.
To get back at Jana. ”
“I’m doing this to survive. Move. ”
“If you walk out that door, tomorrow I will post a note in the town square disowning you.
My money—not a single coin will be left for you. ”
“Then post it. I don’t care. ”
“What did you say?
You will regret this. You will come crawling back to me. ”
I walked out. At Winter’s Castle, a tall steward named Alister Crane met me at the gates.
“Miss Lowe, I am Alister Crane, the steward. Welcome to Winter’s Castle. The castle has 50 chambers and 32 servants. Lady Winters demands punctuality, discretion, and perfection.
”
Then I saw him. A young boy, sitting alone by a window. Alister followed my gaze. “That’s Julian.
He spent six months without a word. Weeks without a full meal. ”
Lady Beatrice Winters was waiting in the study. She was sharp, regal, and studied me like I was a strange specimen.
“Eleanor says you understand people. Prove it. You have one hour. The kitchen is yours.
Make my son eat willingly. No force-feeding. No bribes. ”
“I won’t let you down.
”
I found Julian in his room. The best steak in the house sat untouched on a tray. “You’re the new one? I’ve tried everything.
Steak, stew, nothing works. ”
“That’s it? ” I sat beside him. I took a piece of bread and shaped it into a small star.
I placed it on his plate. “This little star is delicious. Soft and creamy. ”
He watched me, suspicious.
“These little rabbits are shy. They’re looking for a friend, but they’re scared of this big, quiet room. ”
I picked up the star. “I’m going to eat this star.
It’s very brave. ”
He reached out. He picked up the bread. He ate.
Lady Winters stood in the doorway, watching. She nodded once. “You’re hired. Whatever you want, it’s yours.
”
“My lady, it is an honor to serve you. ”
That day, I received a signing bonus of 100 gold pieces. It was the first time in my life I had money that was truly mine. A few days later, Alister came to me.
“Miss Lowe, Lady Winters has approved your permanent appointment. This is the key to your carriage. The coachman Marcus will be at your disposal whenever you need to leave the estate. ”
I was no longer the woman standing by the roadside with nothing but an old wooden trunk.
Then a message arrived from Nieves Castle. “Estella, tomorrow at 3:00, we will sign the final annulment documents. ”
I arrived in the Winter family’s carriage. Jana and Conrad stood in the courtyard of Nieves Castle.
Jana’s eyes went wide when she saw me step out. “Estella. How dare a servant dress like that? How dare a lowborn wretch like you steal the Winter family’s carriage?
Get over here right now. ”
I signed the papers, then looked at her. “You should show more respect to a steward of the Winter family. ”
“A useless housewife like you, a steward?
Impossible. You’re putting on an act. You rented that carriage and that gown. ”
The coachman spoke.
“This is the Winter family’s carriage. ”
“Estella, even if you did become a steward, you’re still just a little dog for the Winter family. ”
I walked to the gate, then turned. I looked at the portrait of my father hanging in the hall, the one my brother-in-law had broken.
“That one is for our father’s painting. ”
His face went red. I stepped into the carriage. “Now let me in to sign the papers, and then both of you never appear before me again.
”
The annulment agreement was placed in front of me. “According to the prenuptial contract you signed, you will leave with nothing. ”
“A Winter family steward—so what? A penniless wretch.
The Nieves and Low fortunes will all be mine. You won’t get a single coin. ”
“I will not sign this. ”
“What did you say?
”
“I will not sign this. I will not leave with nothing. ”
“You have no choice. ”
I placed two documents on the table.
“This is a copy of the betrothal contract between the Low family and the Nieves family. And this—a love letter from Conrad to Jana. ”
Conrad’s face went pale. “If the betrothal is broken due to adultery, the compensation is enough to ruin the Nieves family completely.
”
“Are you threatening me? ”
“I am negotiating. ”
“What do you want? ”
“I want my rightful half of the property.
”
“Over my dead body! That’s all mine! ”
“Then we’ll settle this in court. ”
Conrad redrew the property division agreement, assigning me some abandoned lands and dilapidated manors.
I didn’t argue. At least now, I had property that was truly mine. “One more thing,” Conrad said, his voice full of spite. “Before you leave, go to my wardrobe and organize my shirts.
”
I looked him in the eye. “I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood my new position, Sir Nieves. ”
“What? ”
“My services are now the exclusive asset of the Winter family.
If you wish to request private service, you would need to submit a formal inquiry to my employer. As for the fee—I doubt it’s something you could afford. ”
I left him standing there, speechless. A month later, the Winter family’s annual charity feast arrived.
I was given full authority over the entire event. Four hundred guests, a full orchestra, three days to prepare. The night of the feast, I saw Conrad and Jana across the ballroom. Conrad’s eyes followed me everywhere.
Jana noticed. “You’re thinking about her. ”
“I’m not. ”
“You only married her because I was going to the capital.
Do you regret letting her go now? ”
He didn’t answer. Then, without warning, Jana’s friend Ashley Fletcher collided with me. Her wine glass spilled.
My necklace—Admiral, the Winter family’s crest—was ripped from my neck. “Estella, what have you done? ” Jana screamed. “I know you hate me and my friends because of the divorce, but this is outrageous!
My necklace is worth 50,000 gold coins. It’s my mother’s heirloom. She ripped it off! ”
“I saw her bump into it, Ashley,” someone said.
“I did not touch her necklace. ”
“Of course you wouldn’t admit it. ”
Then a small voice spoke. “She didn’t do it.
You’re liars. ”
Julian. He was standing at the edge of the crowd. “This child—everyone knows he’s not right in the head.
He can barely speak. ”
“I saw it,” Julian said, louder now. “She bumped into Estella on purpose. She undid the necklace herself.
”
A guard stepped forward. “My man can also testify. I was on sentry duty in the corridor tonight. I saw everything.
Lady Fletcher walked over with her wine glass. She deliberately collided with Miss Lowe. She undid the necklace with her own hand. ”
Ashley broke down.
“She made me do it. It was Jana. Jana told me to do it. She said Estella would ruin everything.
She said she had to get rid of her. ”
“Take her away,” Lady Winters said coldly. “Notify the royal court. ”
After six months of silence, Julian’s first words were for me.
But that night, Lady Winters called me into her study. Her face was stone. “Tonight you proved you can handle a setup. But you brought your personal war into my household and exposed my family to public scrutiny.
My nephew was forced to become a witness. No personal disputes cross this threshold. You have broken all my rules. ”
She pushed a document across the desk.
“This is a non-disclosure agreement and a termination of contract. You will receive double compensation. You must leave by morning. ”
I understood.
I had no right to argue. I wrote a letter for Julian, telling him it wasn’t his fault. That night, I heard a sound from his room. A heavy, rattling breath.
I knew that sound. My father had breathed like that before the end. I couldn’t ignore it. Julian was gasping, his small body stiff with terror.
“You are safe. You are in your own room. You are in Winter’s Castle. Look at me.
Breathe with me. In two, three, four. Out two, three, four, five, six. ”
He grabbed my sleeve.
“You’re leaving. Don’t go. Please don’t go. I’ll eat the eggs.
I’ll eat anything. Just don’t leave me. ”
I held him until he fell asleep. The next morning, Lady Winters found me in the hallway.
She looked at me for a long moment. “Alister, take the trunk back to her suite. ”
It took me a second to understand. “The contract still stands.
”
Julian peeked out from behind Alister. “Can she stay? ”
Lady Winters looked at him, then at me. “Come on.
I’ll take you to the kitchen. ”
In the kitchen, I made him a cup of warm milk with lavender honey and dark chocolate. “It helps you sleep,” I told him. “Uncle Ivor is scary,” he said.
“He is. But he’s not bad. He just doesn’t know how not to be scary. ”
“And you?
When you’re here, I don’t feel as scared. ”
Later that week, I met Lydia Winters, Lady Winters’ eldest daughter. She looked me up and down like I was dirt. “You’re the new housekeeper.
I heard you spend all day fondling my brother’s shirts. ”
“I’m identifying the fabrics. Different materials require different washing methods. ”
“Identifying fabric?
Do I look like a fool? Pick it up now. I am a Winters. What I say is an order.
Remember, you’re just a servant. ”
I did as she said. I had a job to keep. Later that day, we went into the city.
Lydia made me carry her packages, stand in the corner of the shop, and wait outside while she shopped. “Your presence here makes it look like the Winters family has no standards for their servants. ”
Then a woman swept in. “Well, well.
Lydia shopping? I heard the Winters family is running short of coin these days. ”
“Tiffany Chandler. What are you doing here?
”
“To shop. Unlike some people who want to buy things they can’t afford. ”
Tiffany pointed at a small purse on display. “Is that the royal custom piece?
Only royalty and true high nobility can get one. You, I imagine, don’t qualify. ”
Lydia’s face went red. I knew that purse.
I had seen one like it in the Nieves household—a genuine one. “Sir,” I said calmly, “please place the purse on the table. Let me have a look. ”
Tiffany laughed.
“Look, you want to touch it? Can you even afford it? ”
“This purse is said to be five years old,” I said. “But this clasp design only appeared this year.
The timeline doesn’t match. Second, the older model had double cross stitching on the edge with tighter spacing. This is single thread straight stitching. Third, and the most obvious—the dye on the crocodile skin.
The genuine piece is soaked through. This one has cracks at the white edge hidden in the scales. ”
Tiffany’s smile vanished. “You’re lying.
”
“Do you have a magnifying glass? ”
The shop owner brought one. I handed it to her. “My lady, this purse is a counterfeit.
”
Tiffany’s face went white. “What did you say? You’re all in on this. A servant like her, how could she know anything?
Who are you, exactly? ”
Lydia watched the whole thing with wide eyes. Later, in the carriage, she kept looking at me. “How did you know that purse was fake?
The stitching, the clasp, the dye. You’re not a housekeeper. t. ”
“I’m just Conrad Nieves’ ex-wife.
A housewife. ”
“A housewife? A housewife can spot a 500 gold point fake at a glance? ”
“During ten years of marriage, my ex’s family had a lot of rare leather goods and jewels.
I watched and I learned. ”
“Why didn’t you say anything before? ”
“You never asked. ”
Lydia’s attitude changed.
Not that she liked me, but she started to see me as someone useful. A few days later, she left a herbal remedy bottle on my desk. “Lord Winters takes it every day. Since you’re heading upstairs anyway, bring it to him.
”
I brought it up. Lord Winters looked at the bottle, then at me. “Who told you to bring this? ”
“Patty.
She said it was what you take every day. ”
His eyes narrowed. “This medicine is only accessible to myself and my personal physician. From now on, no one is allowed to touch anything in this room.
Get out. ”
I found Patty in the kitchen. “Lord Winters is asking for you. Miss Lowe will tell you.
”
I placed a slip of paper on the table. “You wrote this, didn’t you? This afternoon, give the bottle to Estella. Have her deliver it.
”
“How do you have this? ”
“This was your note to remind yourself. ”
“Exactly. It was your reminder to yourself.
So, you admit it was you who told me to deliver the bottle to Lord Winters. ”
Patty’s face fell. “It was your reminder to yourself. So, you admit it was you who told me to deliver the bottle to Lord Winters.
”
Patty was demoted to kitchen hand with half her wages. If she offended again, she would be thrown out of the castle directly. I saw the look on her face as she walked away. I knew I had made an enemy.
A week later, a message arrived from my father. “Estella, your grandfather Theodore has suffered a heart attack. He is at St. Luke’s Infirmary.
He needs 800 gold pieces for the surgery. I can’t raise the money. You’re the only one who can help him. ”
Grandfather.
He had always been good to me since I was little. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I went to the infirmary. “I’m looking for a patient, Theodore Low.
”
“No admission record for that name. ”
Grandfather was sitting in a chair in the office. He didn’t recognize me. Then I realized.
It was a trap. Through the window, I saw Jana and Conrad waiting outside, and a locked door behind me. “She must be on her way,” Jana was saying. “Once she’s inside, lock the door.
We’ll tie her up and wait for the Winter family to pay. ”
The infirmary director grabbed my arm. “You’re not going anywhere. ”
Then the door burst open.
Captain Kowalski, a man I had seen with the Winter family guard, stepped in. “Sir Nieves, release Miss Lowe. ”
“Get out of here. This is none of your business.
”
“Miss Lowe is under Winter family protection. She is within my watch. No one touches her. ”
Conrad’s face twisted with rage.
“Winters. I won’t forget this. ”
In the carriage, Lord Winters sat across from me. “He thinks you’re weak.
Did I say it wrong? He caught you, and you ran. ”
A soldier shouted from outside. “Sir, Nieves’ carriage is coming up behind us.
He’s catching up. ”
“What are you going to do? ” Lord Winters asked. I looked out the window.
“Lord Winters, I am not weak, and I will prove it to you. ”
I told him about the northern trade consortium planning to build a large workshop near Willow Creek. Conrad wanted the land back—the same land he had given me in the divorce. “He thinks it’s an investment.
But it’s just a swamp. A worthless swamp. And he’s willing to ruin himself for it. ”
Lord Winters smiled slowly.
“You want him to buy it? ”
“Yes. I want to watch Conrad spend 4,000 gold pieces on Willow Creek. And then find out it’s a ruin.
”
“Why? ”
“Partly for me. Partly because he’s come after you multiple times. That’s a challenge to your authority.
I’ll make him pay. ”
Through a network of rumors, the news reached Conrad that the consortium’s plans were real. He raised 4,000 gold pieces. I signed the contract.
Conrad handed over the gold. “Gold digger,” he spat. “You bled me dry and now you’re running with the coin. ”
“I only took what I deserve.
”
A week later, the news broke: the northern consortium had canceled its workshop plans. The supply chain was broken. The project was indefinitely suspended. Conrad had nothing left.
Then, Julian fell ill. He started vomiting and running a fever at noon. He was calling my name. The kitchen was sealed.
My steward, Gus, gave the inventory report. “Oats, dried beans, salted meat. No lettuce. ”
Patty stood in the corner, trembling.
“I might have been mistaken. ”
“You might have been mistaken? But just now, in front of everyone, you accused me of poisoning Julian. ”
Patty was taken away.
Poisoning a noble child. The minimum punishment was exile. With luck, she’d spend the rest of her life in the mines. Julian sat up in bed that night.
“Patty isn’t coming back, is she? ”
“No. ”
“She used to be nice to me. I don’t know why she did that.
”
I took his hand. “Feeling better, little one? ”
“Much better. ”
When Julian was recovered, Lady Winters arranged a few days away for Chloe and me at the hot spring estate.
Chloe was delighted. “Look at you, finally relaxed. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you like this. ”
Then a voice cut through the steam.
“Oh, isn’t this my dear sister? You come to places like this? I thought you were only fit for a kitchen as a servant. ”
Jana stood in the doorway, Conrad behind her.
“Stay still. Let her talk,” Conrad said, a cruel smile on his lips. My sister stepped closer. “Estella, I’m so happy for you.
You went from being our family’s servant to someone else’s. This one’s for you—the Winter family’s most loyal lackey. ”
She threw a glass of wine in my face. Before she could move, Chloe grabbed her arm.
“Are you looking for trouble? ”
Jana pulled back. “Who are you? ”
“I’m Chloe.
And I am taking you to the magistrate for assault. ”
But before Chloe could say another word, Lydia Winters stepped out of the steam. Jana stopped cold. “Who… who are you?
”
“I’m Lydia Winters. This hot spring estate belongs to my family. Someone! Medical team, now!
”
She turned to me. “Your arm. It’s bleeding. ”
I looked down.
The shards of the glass had cut me. “It was her. She provoked me first,” Jana said. “Shut up.
I saw you throw the glass with my own eyes. You’re insane. ”
“Conrad, say something! It was her—she made me—she stole you from me!
”
Conrad just stood there, silent. “Take her,” Lady Winters ordered. “Hand her over to the nearest magistrate. ”
Jana was dragged away, screaming.
I turned to Chloe. “Are you insane? Why did you block it for me? ”
“You were standing right next to me.
She was always going to hurt you, not me. Better my arm than your face. ”
I shook my head. “I’m her real target.
”
“That’s exactly why I blocked it. Now let’s get that arm bandaged first. ”
Back at Winter’s Castle, I was preparing the guest list for a feast when Lydia handed me a note. “Miss Lowe, a reply for you.
”
I opened it. Four thousand gold pieces. “Send it back,” I said. Hollow, a servant, looked surprised.
“Miss? ”
“Send it back. I want to meet in person. ”
That afternoon, Conrad stood across the table from me.
He pushed the coins toward me. “Sign. Then take your money and leave. ”
“Gold digger,” he spat.
“You bled Conrad dry and now you’re running with the coin. ”
“I only took what I deserve. ”
He started coughing. “None of this would have happened if you had just stayed quiet.
”
“If I had stayed quiet, I would be dead by now. You made sure of that. ”
He looked at me for a long moment. Then he left.
A day later, he was vomiting blood. His servants found him collapsed in his study. The physician said it was a stroke brought on by the news of the canceled consortium. The Winter family found it fitting.
A month later, an invitation arrived for a dinner party hosted by Cecily Fry, Lydia’s friend. Her father’s steward had quit suddenly, and she needed help. “Just one night,” Lydia said. “You help my friend, and I’ll speak to your mother.
”
“My pleasure, miss. ”
The night of the feast, I watched as a young woman walked in on the arm of a man who was visibly not her husband. “Who is that? ” Lydia whispered.
“Preston’s new mistress. He brought his mistress to his wife’s old feast. ”
I didn’t need to say more. Lydia understood.
Later, at the Vance estate, Honoria Vance—the wife—sat at the head of the table. Her husband, Damien, walked in with the same young woman. “Father, I brought you lunch,” the young woman said. “Who told you to come in?
”
Corrections: “Father, I brought you lunch,” the young woman said. “Who told you to come in? ” Damien snapped. “Father.
Your daughter has been struck in the study. You hit her. ”
Damien’s face went red. “She barged in.
She should have knocked. What is that? ”
But it wasn’t Damien who answered. It was Honoria.
“I am Honoria Vance, chair of the Vance Medical Foundation. I just received word. Candace, you are not a distant relation of the Vance family. You lied to me.
”
Candace’s face went pale. “Damien, I can explain. ”
“Divorce papers will be sent to your quarters,” Honoria said calmly. “My lawyers will contact you tomorrow.
”
One family shattered. But Honoria’s new life had just begun. Crest in hand, daughter at her side. Later, she met with Lord Winters.
“The Vance family owes you a great debt. I owe you two lives—mine and my daughter’s. ”
“You owe me nothing,” Lord Winters said. “But I want to repay you.
The Vance family has a secret research program at the Royal Sophia College of Medicine focused on rehabilitation for central nerve damage. Currently, there are only three clinical trial slots. My uncle Frederick Vance leads this research. The treatment must be conducted at the college entirely secluded for six months.
”
“What is the success rate? ”
“Not a complete cure. But all three subjects regained the ability to walk. One of them no longer needs a cane.
”
Lord Winters was silent for a long moment. “You want to give me a slot. ”
“Because the Vance family owes it. If you wish, Estella can accompany you.
She would oversee your living arrangements and recovery management there. ”
I found him alone in his study that night. “Will you go? ” I asked.
“Let me know once you’ve decided. The slot will be held for you for three months. ”
He didn’t answer. I set a cup of tea in front of him.
“Julian needs you. ”
“Julian needs me to live long and healthy. Not to watch you fade away in that chair. ”
“What if I don’t make it through?
”
“Then I’ll take care of Julian. You know I will. ”
“Will you come with me? ”
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he took the tea. “Yes. Tell them I accept. ”
Six months at Sophia College.
A chance.
