There is a saying in our kingdom that a woman's unfaithfulness can only be cleaned with her blood. It is up to the husband to decide the mode of death for his unfaithful partner. This was the only babaric rule our kingdom had besides that women were free to work and even become warriors as long as their partners agreed to it, of course.

I am a woman who also suffered the fate of an unfaithful woman. Though, i was named an unfaithful woman after my step-sister and step-brothers framed me. They asked me to visit our home under the pretense that they missed having me around, and they were ready to apologize for all the damage they had done to my reputation in the capital. Out of the goodness of my heart, i gave them a chance and went home. Our parents were out for the evening, it was just us the step-sibilings, we ate, laughed and drank. I should have known that my drink was the only one with a special ingredient, a sleeping pill. They drugged me, but i was too happy and naive to care, i was happy that my step-sibilings were finally coming around, and they had accepted me.

Sigh, i was a fool. After the drug took effect, i fell asleep and woke up next to a homeless man. For real, he looked like a beggar when i compared him to my charismatic husband. I had a throhbing headache and possibly the greatest hangover. I looked around and saw that i was in my bedroom and I was in my undergarments next to him. When i woke up he smiled and me and said, " duchess you are indeed a wild one like the rumors say, look at all these signs of love (scratches on his body) you inflicted on me." I almost gagged at the smell and sound of his voice

While gathering myself to refute his disgusting accusations, i heard voices in the corridor outside my room. My maid was preventing the Duke, my husband, from entering my room. He forced his way through with my step- sister and oldest step-brother closely behind him, apologizing for my disgraceful behavior.

He came straight at me and pulled and literally dragged me out of the bed. I was still recovering from the shock when he lifted me and walked towards the window, and tossed me outside. My room was on the fourth floor, and that height was enough to break bones and damage vital organs, i was probably not going to survive this.

I looked up to see his eyes full of visciousness and hatred. Behind him, my step-sister was looking at me with a gloating smile. When i landed, i heard cracks from my bones radiating all over my body. I felt a sharp pain shooting through my body, and i wanted to scream from the pain, but i could not. Instead of my screams of agony, i heard my step-sister's shocked scream and when i looked up she pretended to be distressed as my step-brother hugged her shielding her eyes from what i presume to be my bloodied body.

I also closed my eyes as i imagined how horrifying i must be looking right now. A lot of emotions coursed throigh me, rage, sadness, bitterness but in the end i resigned because he did what he thought he had to do based on the evidence they gave him, i was an adulter to him.

With my eyes closed, i could hear footsteps coming towards me. It was my husband, my murderer. I did not have the energy to do or say anything in my defense in that instance because i was going to die anyway.

But then a little cute figure popped up in my mind, and i prayed that he would not see me in this state. My little step-son was the only reason i stayed in this marriage, i felt sorry for him because he needed a mother's care and love. I immediately opened my mouth and said, " p-please take care of little JayJay."

Looking at me with nothing but hatred, he said, " You think you have the right to say that?!"

"P-please...." i begged him

" i do not have the time to listen to your nonsense. I came to confirm that you are dead or at least close to, " he said coldly, and though i expected my own death, it still hurt to hear him say that.

" Do not speak about my son. Keep his name out of your mouth. " he said

I remained silent.

But he continued talking, " Why did you do that? You have everything! Your family even asked for mercy and requested i use my sword on you instead. But,

using my sword would have only tainted it with your blood, and i would have to throw a good sword away." He was mad and very ruthless with his words, so i chose silence again.

In the end, when he started walking away, i used the little energy i had left and grasped his cloak.

"I-I never betrayed you, R-Ryan." I whispered. It was a struggle to keep my eyes.

" I was faithful. You can call me many things, but i-i am not an adulter a-and i-its up to you i-if y-y-you b-believe m-me o-or n-not. I whispered that sentence with great trouble.

He stopped briefly and looked at me with the same eyes. He did not believe me. I coughed blood, like a lot of blood. He did not spare me another glance and left. I did not master the courage to say anything else, so i lay there.

My head was fuzzy. I was getting light headed, i could feel it was close to the end. However, I wanted to let my husband know that though our marriage was a loveless one marred by distrust and secrets, I never cheated on him. They framed me, and because of the little faith he had in me, he believed them and killed me. If there is a chance that i may survive this or perhaps....

"Young miss!Young miss, please wake up." Huh? What's going on? Who's calling my name?

Last i remember, i had died to my husband's hand.

I recognized the voice. It was Lily's voice, my personal maid! However, i did not open my eyes immediately because i felt like this scene was a bit familiar, like deja vu.

Next, my uncle would properly make a scarcastic comment about me.

"Oh please, this brat is probably just pretending to be sick. I know that she does not want my sister to remarry!" And there it was.

I was right. I had been reincarnated on the night before my mother got married, the day my step siblings started all these tricks.

A few days after my mother announced her marriage, I threw a tantrum and told her that I did not want her to get married again because we could be happy just the two of us. I told her that she was betraying dad.

I know, that was stupid of me.

I later found out that she did it all for me. No one in the capital wanted my hand in marriage after i turned 18 because i did not have a male in the household.

I felt guilty and unreasonable for my behavior, so when my step siblings reached out, i immediately saw that as an opportunity to make my mother happy.

They had sent me fruit as a friendly token. I was glad for the gesture, so i ate the stuff without hesitation! Then i suddenly felt sick, i even fainted right before i could board the carriage to my step-family's house.

This was seen as my unwillingness towards the marriage.

Soon, rumors spread throughout the capital that I, Charolette, was an unreasonable and ungrateful daughter for not seeing my mother's sacrifice.

They even went as far as implicating my mother, calling us charity stray cats who were not appreciating my step-family's gesture.

Now that i am back, i am going to change the narrative.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. I saw my mother's worried face, but there was hurt in her eyes. She probably believed my uncle's words that i was using another tactic to stop her wedding.

I immediately got up and threw myself in her arms.

Her embrace was soft and comforting. I cried. I cried and apologized to my mother.

"I am so sorry, Mother. I am sorry, i am so sorry." I said as tears came down my cheeks.

I let all it all out, the bitterness, the anger, helplessness, and fatigue I had from my past life.

I cried over my death because

I never did, i cried over my failed marriage, and lastly, i cried over how i never considered my mother's feelings as i let Ryan kill me without a fight.

"Charl, darling. What is the matter?" My mother's worried said trting to soothe me.

" I should have fought, mother. I should have fought." I said in between the sobs. My nineteen year old body shook so much that i gave my mother a scare.

"Charl, what do you mean? Talk to Mother." My mother said.

She sounded very panicked, i do not blame her because she did not know what i was talking about.

I did not say anything and just cried in her arms.

She hesitated and then said, " I-if this is about the wedding, I-I can always call it off." She said with a sigh.

"Sister,you can not!" My uncle shouted

"Society will shun you as an unwed woman!"

" Not now Robert, my daughter takes precedence over everything else." My mother states calmly

"Even at your own happiness?! Marrying the marquess will boost your social standing! I am sure that low life you married before would have wanted what's best for you, and this is it!" My uncle continued.

He has always disliked my father because my mother was from a family of earls, and he was a viscount, a level below my mother.

"Robert, that is enough out of you. You shall respect your deceased brother in law! Like i said,we can have this discussion later. Now, let me take care of my daughter." My mother said firmly.

I did not like them fighting, and in as much as i disliked my uncle for disliking my dad, i would not let my mother suffer again.

In this life, nothing my step-siblings did would stop me.

" Do not cancel the wedding, mother." I said between sobs

" What are you saying, my dear? I thought you did not want this wedding to happen?" My mother said in a soft voice, looking very confused.

I rapidly shook my head, pulling away from my mother and sitting properly on the floor, " No, mom. Uncle is right. You should be happy."

"I am?" My uncle said, echoing my words.

Nodding my head, i said in a meek voice, " I was only afraid that you would forget all about me after you got a new family." I do not care how this sounded like i was 5. I just needed a believable excuse, and it worked perfectly.

"Oh, Charl. That is ridiculous. You are my pride and joy. I would never leave you behind for the sake of securing a new marriage." My mother said, hugging me again.

"I am sorry, Mother. I promise to live up to that. I will make you proud." I said once more, melting in my mother's embrace.

" Alright, Robert, tell the marquess to not cancel the banquet." My mother said instructing my uncle.

If memory served me right, the banquet my mother was referring to was probably a small family and friends gathering to welcome my mother into the marquess household.

And from what I recall, my mother's side would not be present because they were still bitter about the fact that my mother married my dad and the fact that remarrying would only shame them more (their words not mine).

Perhaps attending the banquet in this life would change my past life's events a bit~

"Miss, the coach has announced that we will be arriving soon." Lily, my maid, said.

"Hmmm." I said. We had set out that afternoon, and it was almost evening now. I fell asleep somewhere along the way and asked Lily to wake me when we got there.

" Miss, you need to wake up and freshen up your face." Lily said

" No, I do not want too~" I said in a childish voice. Lily was my favorite, and so I could behave however I wanted in front of here

"Well, miss you must." She spoke again

"Can I get at least five more minutes?" I pleaded

" We will already be at the marquess household in five minutes. My lady, your makeup has been ruined" She said

" No, it hasn't." I argued.

She then handed me a mirror. When she saw my shocked face basically questioning where she got that mirror, she said, "A lady always cones prepared."

Taking the mirror, I rolled my eyes.

"See, I look fine." I told her

" No, miss check properly." She said again

" There is nothing!"

" Keep checking."

"Just tell me where to look" I said as I finally lifted my head to sit up right.

" The mouth."

"Huh? Oh..." I saw what she was referring to.

" Why did you not just say that I drooled in my sleep? It is perfectly normal." I told her embarrassed as i wiped it off.

Okay, I never drool, it is just that the roads might have been dusty, and breathing through my nose got to be difficult.

" No, it is not, miss. What would the others think when they see you like this?"

" That I am cute?" I said batting my eyelids and pouting

" Well, you most certainly are, but that is not the point. Should I tell madam about this?"

" Okay, fine. Let's drop it. It won't happen again." I said defeated

She smiled triumphantly. " Do you want me to touch up your makeup?"

(Noisy background. The carriage slows down.)

Lily opened the curtain a bit and looked outside.

" Oh no! We have arrived! There won'tthe enough time to fix your makeup." She said distressed

" It is alright, Lily. Don't be sad." I comforted her.

"How can I not when you makeup is ruined. I wanted you to be introduced at your best." She said, almost crying.

Sigh," How long do we have?" I asked

" I am not sure." She said

"Okay, fine. That's more than enough." I replied

"P-pardon? Miss, what are you doing? What if they tell us to get out of the carriage this instant?" She asked panicked.

" Then you would have to help me and stop them." I said. I was not doing much, really. Looking in the bag Lily carried full of all sorts of makeup materials, I felt glad that she always comes prepared.

I wiped off my initial make up. Honestly, I did not like the way they did it initially because it was thick. Everyone in this kingdom loved thick makeup, and I was the same in my previous life. That was until I left this place and went to the Duke's residence, I learned that he preferred light makeup and found thick makeup repulsive.

"M-Miss..."

"Don't worry, I know what I am doing." I changed my makeup to something lighter, I felt like I could breathe again.

"Wow, miss. This... You look ...breathtaking." Lily said

Laughing, I said, "I see those extra lessons are coming in handy?" I was joking.

She blushed and said, "Thanks to you Miss."

Lily was not a usual maid, I found her when I was a child and forced my parents to take her with us.

 Normally, maids or ladies in waiting need to at least be from a family in society with some standing, a level lower than your standing and well-educated.

She was a year older than me and I hoped that one day she would find her own happiness.

" You are welcome." I smiled

"Oh, we are going to be introduced next." She squealed.

She was right, we were announced next. This was just a fancy way of saying that they were telling us to exit our carriages and move to the event where a proper announcement would be made in front of the crowd.

"Madam Catherine Carson, title: Viscountess

and her daughter, miss Charlotte Carson." someone announced.

"Well, looks like the stage is ready. Let the show begin," I muttered breathing sharply.

"Pardon? miss did you say something?" Lily asked

"Oh, not at all." I said giving her a bright smile

We exited the carriages. I had my own carriage and so did my mother.

 Since we were "special guests", we were immediately ushered into a different path one that led to the second house.

" Madam Carson, I am Thomas, the butler in this household. The marquess has ordered me to escort you this evening." Thomas said with a bow.

"Oh, pleased to meet you and sorry for the trouble." My mother said politely.

"Not at all Madam." Thomas said

"Please follow me." he continued and we followed him.

My guess was, since the even was in the main house, we were going to meet the marquess and his family before going to the event.

As the house came in view, Fear and anxiety settled in. Throughout the journey I never considered how my encounter with my step siblings would be like.

My plans felt sweaty, and I nervously pulled on my dress.

My mother noticed this because she suddenly pulled me closer, and held my hand.

I looked at her,, and she gave me a reassuring smile.

"Please wait here." The butler said politely,and went inside.

I used to time to breathe and calm down. I honestly did not know how to feel. Furthermore, I had lived here before, sat down with these people and had a meal with them and yet my heart kept beating so fast, my breath kept hitching out of fear because I could not look past it.

I still remembered the scene, being thrown out of a window from the fourth floor, the sound of my bones breaking, the blood oozing out from my body.

These were vividly painted in my mind so much that if I closed my eyes I would relive that moment each passing second.

He came back shortly after getting me out of my thoughts when he said, "The marquess and his children are waiting."

Ba dum, ba dum. I could hear the sound of my hammering heart as we walked in.