Chapter 108

How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 108. Past Glory (2)

Celestine bent, her fingers trailing along the edge of the tapestry, a depiction of the rich lands that had once belonged to her family, covered with thriving crops. Her expression of longing was as clear as if she had seen those fields growing herself.

“That’s why we suffered such losses,” she went on. “Most of our crops were destroyed by the earthquake, and when the royal family turned their back, many of our people starved to death. Our debts grew, and we could not pay the interest, and so our land was sold away, bit by bit. Our land was the treasure of my family.”

Celestine spoke frankly about the tragedy. The history records of the time documented villages filled with the dead, dying people falling into the wells as they tried to draw water, and silent villages filled with swarming flies. The story of the Keers family was a glimpse of a living hell.

Annette listened in silence. It must hurt Celestine’s pride to tell this story before her rival, but she hadn’t brought it up thoughtlessly. There was a larger point to be made.

“Lady Annette,” she said, lifting her head with a flicker of fear in her eyes. “I have always been curious.”

Somehow, Annette knew what she was about to say. Celestine glanced around anxiously before she spoke.

“Our family was subdued under the control of the royal family,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “And so were the Bavarias. How have you survived so far? Your blood is the second noblest in Deltium. The royal family must consider you a threat, too.”

It wasn’t always a bad thing. Long ago, they had been close relatives, too close to marry into the royal family, but a few centuries later it was a possibility again. The Bavaria family had often produced Deltium’s queens.

It was fortunate that they were sufficiently separate from the royal family to marry into it. But it also meant that the royal family might consider Bavaria an enemy rather than an ally. And they would make a powerful enemy.

Annette’s eyes widened.

“That is an excellent question,” she said, with a bitter smile. Inside, she was wondering how much she could tell the other woman.

Her present life had changed so much from her last one, and Annette wasn’t sure how valid a guide that previous life was anymore. But despite the risks, she had to act. She knew what the results of passive acceptance of this life would be.

Dying, while closing her eyes to everything. Or doing the best she could with everything she had learned. What was a better life? In her last life, she would probably have always chosen the former. But she couldn’t waste this life. Even if it was a bitter struggle, wasn’t that what really living was about?

Though she feared choosing wrongly, Annette had no intention of hiding like a coward. This life, she would live boldly.

“Honestly…” Annette smiled, her clear tone and elegant manners immediately capturing the attention. “Bavaria has a similar history to yours. Our family has always been stuck in a tug-of-war with the royal family. Fortunately, we have not had so many losses. Except me.”

Annette’s trained voice was as smooth and refined as water flowing, and Celestine almost missed those last words. But her eyes widened as she realized what Annette was insinuating.

Annette laid a finger on her lips.

“You and I know that I was dropped from consideration to be Crown Princess because I was falsely accused,” she said. “We both know that neither of us is guilty. So who is the real culprit? Who benefited by harming me? Have you thought about it?”