Back at the estate, my father, disgraced by me, locked me in the backyard.

"Please don't blame me for being harsh. You shouldn't have claimed the life-saving grace that belonged to Luna. Consider this your punishment."

I opened my mouth but could no longer make a sound. I collapsed in tears; I had long realized that my father didn't care about the truth.

The truth about that incident when I was eight, he knew it well. Afterward, he dealt with Mother's lover and became affectionately devoted to my mother, turning into a couple envied by everyone in the Central Capital.

He sought reputation, not truth.

After locking me away for a while and seeing I neither cried nor resisted anymore, he conveniently married me off to one of his students.

Alexander was a talented but low-born scholar. He treated me well, buying me sweets and beautiful dresses when he went out.

Alexander would take me to see the fireworks and stand up for me when his mother, Louisa Baker, cursed at me.

I thought life would continue peacefully like this. I wore out my hands embroidering to save money for his exams, but I never expected that on the night he passed his exams...

He drunk as a lord, and he kicked the door open. I greeted him with a smile, but he slapped me across the face.

"I've had enough of you, dummy. If you didn't somewhat resemble Luna, do you think I'd keep you around?"

The pain made me realize I was just a stand-in for Luna. Tears streaming, I looked up at him.

"Now that I am the top scholar, what kind of wife could I not have?"

He desired to marry Luna and had made his intentions clear to my father. Back when Luna had saved Osborne's life, she had hoped to become Osborne's wife but was rejected.

Osborne preferred men and couldn't possibly marry her, yet he bestowed upon her honors even more significant than those of a princess!

Luna, bolstered by Osborne's support, amused herself with high officials in the Central Capital, wielding her influence!

The next day, Luna came to visit me under the pretense of concern, but in reality, she was arm-in-arm with Alexander, smiling at me.

"I'm blind, how could I possibly deserve today's top scholar?"

Hearing this, Alexander gave me a sinister look. To amuse Luna, he cruelly gouged out my eyes!

I collapsed in a pool of blood, voiceless, as Luna playfully grabbed his hand. Together, they plunged a dagger into my heart.

The familiar pain surged again.

This time, I had hidden the crystal pendant very well before Osborne's men came to fetch me.

That afternoon, my parents arrived with Luna.

As Osborne was about to make a promise to me, my mother burst in, her words coarse. "You despicable thing, how dare you steal Luna's credit? It was your sister who saved Mr. Kensington, and here you are, trying to deceive him. Your dirty ambitions are plain to see; how could our family produce someone like you?"

My father declared that my habitual lying made me unfit for polite society, fearing I would disgrace our family's name.

Luna cried pitifully, her tears like rain, and I couldn't help but feel pity.

"Eleanor, ever since we were children, you've bullied me because I'm blind and can't see, often mixing dirt in my food and later even drugging me, trying to frame me with the stable boy. Despite all the harm you've caused, I've always forgiven you because you are my sister.

"But it was I who saved Mr. Kensington that night. I was the one who distracted the assassin and dressed his wounds."

Luna stepped forward, eagerly recounting the events of that night, even bashfully lowering her gaze.

"As a blind woman, I can feel with my hands, and Mr. Kensington has a scar this long on his chest. I accidentally offended him that day, and I beg your forgiveness!"

Luna's words were firm, causing Osborne to frown and his expression to change.

Throughout this, I remained silent as they continued to slander me.

"The crystal pendant Mr. Kensington left for me was also stolen by Eleanor."

I didn't say a word.

Following this, my parents knelt, admitting their failure in raising me, claiming my spoiled upbringing led me to have the audacity to deceive Osborne!

"Confess now, before you bring disgrace upon our family. I won't be able to protect you!"

"Your Highness, Eleanor didn't mean to do this; she was merely misled. Please, consider the mercy she once showed, and don't be too harsh on her!"

Luna pleaded, appearing to seek mercy for me yet reminding Osborne of my sins.

Suddenly, Osborne laughed. He looked at Luna. "You think you can fool me that easily, Luna Hastings? You say you saved me, then take a good look at this. What is it?"