The servants scrambled to drag Vivienne back inside.

"You vile woman!"

I could still hear her screaming from halfway across the courtyard, but I paid it no mind.

Sealing Stellan's death in the official record was the only thing that mattered right now. As for Vivienne, there would be plenty of time to deal with her later.

…

On the third day, I sent a letter to the military camp. It was addressed to Vice Commander Garrett Soren, Stellan's sworn rival in the ranks.

I could handle the people and affairs within the estate easily enough, but Stellan was a seasoned battlefield commander with loyal men scattered throughout the army. If he had left contingencies in place, I could not afford to be caught off guard.

That afternoon, Garrett arrived at my invitation.

"I'm not sure what could be so urgent that the general's wife needs to see me personally."

He offered me a perfunctory bow, and his tone was far from warm. I did not take it personally.

"Stellan Montclair is not dead."

That was enough to drain the color from Garrett's face.

In my previous life, I was the one who suffered the most from Stellan's scheme. However, the retaliation Garrett endured was no less devastating.

When Stellan returned from his feigned death, the very first person he went after was Garrett, who had tried to seize command in his absence. Stellan dispatched him deep into enemy territory with no supplies and no reinforcements, and left him there to be ground down and killed.

Afterward, in his report to the crown, Stellan claimed Garrett had defected to the enemy. The accusation led to the execution of Garrett's entire family.

"You're Stellan's wife. Why would you tell me this? Aren't you afraid that..." Garrett stared at me, clearly unable to fathom why I would do this.

I simply smiled. "Because I want him dead just as much as you do."

The composure on his face cracked apart.

I continued, "Your abilities are well known to me, Vice Commander. With Stellan dead, the position of commanding general will be yours. And for my son to inherit the family title, Stellan needs to stay dead. Why not join hands?"

I extended the offer openly.

His expression was a war of conflicting emotions. I did not press him. I gave him time.

After a long, quiet moment, Garrett bowed to me with considerably more respect than he had shown when he walked in. "I'm at your service."

I nodded. The alliance was set.

After I saw Garrett off, the warmth left my eyes.

…

On the fourth day of Stellan's feigned death, Vivienne started making moves again.

My sudden visit to the palace had rattled her. The entire Montclair estate was now firmly under my control. While Daphne was still alive, I had thrown her into the family crypt four days ago with no food and no water.

The whole point of Stellan's scheme was to use Daphne's act of martyrdom to pressure me into giving up my position as the lady of the house so he could marry Daphne openly and properly.

If Daphne died before that could happen, everything they had planned would be for nothing. So that night, the servant I had stationed to watch Vivienne came to report.

"My lady, Mrs. Montclair Sr. sent someone out under the cover of dark. They've brought back Dr. Pemberton."

I frowned.

In my previous life, it was Dr. Fred Pemberton who supplied Stellan with the death-feigning potion. The potion was set to wear off after seven days, at which point Stellan would wake on his own. Now, Vivienne was sending for the very same doctor.

She was panicking. She wanted to bring Stellan back ahead of schedule.

A cold smile crossed my lips. I took out paper and pen and wrote two letters.

"Deliver these. One to Everett, the other to the military camp for Vice Commander Soren. Everyone else, follow me to the chapel."