Chapter 3 – Do We Still Need To Stay?

• William paused, as though struggling to recognize the woman standing before him. He sighed, almost helplessly. “Why make things harder for yourself? This is His Holiness’s proposal. Even if Isabella marries me, you two won’t live together. She won’t compete with you for control of the household. Elinor, the things you care about… she doesn’t even want.”
• “You think I care about managing your family's affairs?” Elinor shot back.
• The affairs of the Hohenzollern family were anything but easy to manage. Just keeping Mrs. Hohenzollern alive with medicine from the Templar physicians cost hundreds of gold coins each month. Then there were the expenses for food, clothing, banquets, diplomatic gifts—everything ran on gold.
• The family's finances had been stretched thin for a long time. Over the past year alone, a large portion of her late mother’s inheritance had been funneled into supporting the Hohenzollerns. Now, they were barely staying afloat.
• William’s patience snapped. “Forget it. I’m not here to argue. I’ll ask the king to issue the marriage decree himself. I only came to inform you. Whether you agree or not doesn’t change the outcome.”
• Elinor watched him leave with a cold stare. The irony was bitter—this was the man who had once knelt before her, begging for her hand in marriage.
• “Madam!” Anna, her maid, wiped away her tears. “The Earl is truly heartless!”
• “What are you rambling about?” Elinor said indifferently. “I’ve never even shared a bed with him. How can I be called his wife?” She turned away. “Anna, go fetch my inheritance ledger.”
• “The inheritance list? Why do you need that?” Anna blinked, confused.
• Elinor tapped her forehead lightly, her tone calm. “Silly Anna. With a family like this, do we still need to stay?”
• Anna covered her face and sobbed softly. “But Miss Elinor, this was your decision. You pursued this marriage. You even threatened to sever ties with the Claremont family. And the Claremonts have already…”
• At the mention of her father, Elinor’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
• Unlike other noblemen, her father never took a mistress. He only ever loved her mother.
• She was the only girl among five brothers, all of whom followed their father onto the battlefield. Three years ago, during the northern border campaign, only her father returned.
• As a Claremont, Elinor was never raised to be a fragile noblewoman. From a young age, she trained in swordsmanship. At seven, she was sent to a monastery to study military tactics with a reclusive hermit, mastering the art of war.
• Then she met William.
• He had come to the monastery as a guest. He had looked at her with sincere eyes and knelt, vowing his love.
• Blinded by affection, Elinor ignored her parents’ warnings and insisted on marrying him—despite the Hohenzollerns’ decline, despite everything. She was even willing to be disowned for him.
• Six months ago, tragedy struck. Her father was assassinated—his body brutalized with 108 wounds. The culprit was never found.
• It wasn't until her first life neared its end, when she was tortured and humiliated, that William admitted it—he was the one who ordered her father’s death. The crime was his, all because her father opposed the marriage.
• She would never forget her wedding day. Her mother had clutched her hands, sobbing until her eyes went blind.
• “Elinor, my child,” she had said hoarsely. “You are my only daughter. I won’t stop you anymore. Go. May God protect you.”
• The pain of that moment had carved itself deep into Elinor’s bones.
• Not long after, her mother died for love—choosing to join her father in death.
• Elinor became the only surviving member of the once-mighty Claremont family. And she had walked into her marriage with William with everything she owned.
• She spent a year perfecting her etiquette and noble demeanor, hoping to bring peace to her departed family in the afterlife.
• But all of it fell apart when William brought Isabella into their home.
• A national hero with military achievements, Isabella was the kingdom’s first female baroness and held the Pope’s favor. With her backing, William’s path to power was guaranteed. And so, the Hohenzollerns embraced the idea of another marriage.
• That was the day Elinor’s nightmare began.
• From the moment Isabella arrived at Hohenzollern Castle, Elinor was no longer the lady of the house—she was reduced to a servant. She had to serve Isabella, endure her cruelty, and become her punching bag.
• William turned a blind eye.
• His only interest was in seizing Elinor’s assets and using her as a pawn to bring down her maternal grandfather, Duke Moblack, by accusing him of treason. With the Moblack family destroyed, William consolidated his power.
• Eventually, he became the most powerful man in the kingdom.
• And Elinor? Her life ended in flames, a lance through her heart.
• Now, reborn and staring at her youthful reflection, Elinor’s fiery red lips curved into a faint smile. Her eyes, cold and sharp, glimmered with murderous intent.
• This time… she would not be the one burned.