The Lady Nun Vows Revenge by Caroline Rowland

“You probably won’t believe me, but I find your condition interesting. So, here’s a kind reminder. You’re not suffering from a terminal illness. You’ve been poisoned.”

Eliza’s tone was indifferent, but her words widened Benedict’s eyes in shock. “Poisoned?”

Benedict’s face was filled with disbelief. “But that’s impossible! I’ve either been to the estate or the High Council. How could anyone have poisoned me?”

Realizing how his words might sound, he quickly tried to explain. “No, I didn’t mean to doubt you, Eliza. I’m just…”

“There’s no need to explain yourself, Benedict. I’ve grown used to it.”

The words “grown used to it were spoken so lightly as if it didn’t seem to affect Eliza. As for Benedict, hearing them was like a dagger to the heart.

“How could anyone get used to that? It’s all my fault, Eliza. I was blind and foolish back then, causing you so much pain. I was wrong, I-” Benedict’s voice faltered.

Before he could finish, Eliza cut him off impatiently, “I already said, no explanations needed. Can’t the Duke’s eldest son understand simple words?”

a knife to the chest, twisting deeper with every syllable. The pain was suffocating. Benedict had so much to say, but she no longer wanted to hear any of it. It was just

We were playing together, and

didn’t do anything, why does Sophie have so

know! Benedict, please believe

and making excuses. Get out of this house and don’t

to me. It wasn’t

a good figure for her adopted sister. She took Sophie out to explore the bustling streets of

room, dragging her out of bed and demanding to know why she had bullied Sophie. Eliza had been utterly bewildered. After

had spent the entire day happily playing with her. Yet no matter how much she tried to explain, her brother, who had once

until Eliza saw the bruises on Sophie’s body–marks made by someone’s hands–that she realized

wrong.

it’s not Eliza’s

in Sophie’s words. She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Sophie

understood everything. Sophie had