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?”

words hit Benedict like 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

I swear I didn’t hurt Sophie. We were playing

you didn’t do anything, why does Sophie have so many bruises?”

know! Benedict, please

out of

listen to me. It

back then. She wanted to be a good figure for her adopted sister. She took Sophie out to explore the bustling streets of Hasen City, treating her to delicious food and

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

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

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

wrong.

pitiful voice, Sophie cried, “Benedict, it’s not Eliza’s fault. She didn’t do anything. I accidentally

couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Sophie hadn’t fallen that day. But why is she lying? Why is

to leave the house until nightfall, Eliza finally understood everything. Sophie had done