Chapter 1:
The Villainess Is Condemned, Sent to a Brothel
THE VILLAINESS CLAUDIA was proud and ignorant in equal measure. When she arrived at the royal palace, where the academy’s graduation party was being held, she waltzed around with her shoulders rolled back and her head held high. It wasn’t until her gaze landed on the crown prince that her sharp, intimidating eyes narrowed even further.
“Your Highness, I am your betrothed! Why did you not escort me in?!” she shrieked, feeling thoroughly dishonored by this discourtesy. Over the prince’s shoulder, she caught a glimpse of Fermina—her half-sister. Her jaw tensed, teeth grinding. Why must you always get in my way?!
Claudia deeply detested her lowborn half-sister. The way Fermina shrank back in fear whenever their eyes met infuriated her. She also resented the prince for his perpetually detached demeanor.
“You are not my betrothed,” he said firmly. “You are merely a candidate for future crown princess.”
Claudia huffed at him. “Same thing!”
Even now, she never doubted for a moment that their engagement was assured. Her superior pedigree guaranteed it; the ducal house of Lindsay had a legacy dating back to the founding of the Harland Kingdom. There wasn’t a man or woman in the realm who didn’t know of their house. In fact, a previous royal marriage into their line made Crown Prince Sylvester her second cousin. Considering all the other hopefuls had less impressive backgrounds than hers, it was inconceivable that Claudia wouldn’t be chosen.
She was about to point out as much out to the prince, but her older brother, Virgil, interrupted her. This very party was being held in his honor; his graduation from the academy was just on the horizon.
“It’s not the same at all. Besides, you are no longer a candidate. Father has disowned you completely and arranged for you to be sent to a nunnery.”
Claudia struggled to process what her brother had said. Her eyes went as wide as dinner plates, and the world spun around her. Her throat was suddenly parched as she muttered to herself, “This cannot be.”
A nunnery? Me? But I am a duke’s daughter! I’m engaged to the crown prince! Claudia stared straight ahead, frozen and unable to comprehend.
“Our investigation uncovered how maliciously you’ve tormented Fermina,” said Virgil. “I thought you were better than this. She may only be our half-sister, but she is still blood. I cannot believe you would sink to such sickening lows!”
The knight captain’s son stood shoulder to shoulder with the prince, a sneer contorting his otherwise handsome face. Apparently he, too, had been apprised of the whole situation, for he was quick to join in and admonish her. “You even hired thugs to attack her! As a duke’s daughter, have you no dignity? Where could you have learned such heinous behavior?!”
What in the world is going on here? Claudia wondered. She felt utterly lost.
The accusations against her were true, to be sure; she had sent thugs after Fermina to put her in her place. After all, Fermina was a product of her father’s infidelity.
Above the vast hall hung a glimmering chandelier, and the orchestra’s live performance echoed all around them. To celebrate their graduating students, the younger students had donned their finest gowns and suits with resplendent jewelry to match, making the whole party an ostentatious affair. Claudia wore a dress lavishly decorated with gemstones to celebrate her brother’s upcoming graduation. Why was everyone ganging up on her here, at such an opulent party venue of all places?
“Please, enough of this!” The commotion drove even the detestable Fermina to speak up.
She had been hiding behind their brother until that moment, but it seemed she’d finally mustered up her courage. She emerged from Virgil’s shadow and closed the gap between her and Claudia, her pink-tinted brown hair streaming behind her with every step. Then she threw her arms around Claudia, as though offering her persecuted half-sister encouragement.
Claudia stiffened at the unwelcome contact.
“I’m certain we can settle this amicably if we just discuss things with my elder sister,” Fermina went on. “So please, don’t admonish her any further!”
Virgil shook his head. “Fermina, your compassion is lost on her.”
“But, Elder Brother…!” As soon as she realized he wouldn’t heed her protests, her adorable face flooded with sadness. When she hung her head, Claudia was the only one who glimpsed her hidden smirk.
“You little—” Claudia might have hurled insults at her half-sister had Fermina not quickly interjected.
“I believe in you, Elder Sister! I just know you’ll see the error of your ways at the nunnery!” Fermina released her grip on Claudia’s shoulders and let her arms fall limp at her sides. Her voice conveyed such grace and benevolence that those present were left in awe.
Claudia saw what lay beneath the good-girl facade—saw how Fermina’s cheeks flushed with euphoria. It came as such a shock that she was struck speechless.
The edges of Fermina’s lips curled, and her eyes narrowed into crescents. She was sneering at Claudia. And to make matters worse, she mouthed words only Claudia could read: Serves you right.
✦ ✦ ✦
In a cruel twist of fate, more ill fortune befell Claudia as she was en route to the nunnery. Bandits descended on her carriage. They had specifically targeted her to sell to a high-class brothel frequented by the aristocracy. The one saving grace was that the brothel’s older sex workers doted on Claudia.
Due to her virginity still being intact when she was sold off, her first night fetched the highest price ever recorded for any of the brothel’s workers. That record did little to assuage the humiliation and bitterness that welled up inside of her. Whenever her emotions became too much to bear, and she dissolved into tears, the older women were always quick to comfort her. This was markedly different from what she was used to; she’d always cried alone at her father’s estate.
Claudia petulantly rejected their overtures at first, but it didn’t take long for her to warm up to them once she realized how accepting and compassionate they were. She became especially attached to one woman in particular: Helen, a former earl’s daughter who used her experience in high society to manipulate the hearts of her male clientele.
“You fool,” Helen said. “I cannot believe you let yourself get lured into such a trap only to then land yourself here in a brothel!”
“Then you really believe everything I said?”
“Of course, Dee. You have the disposition of a child stuck in an adult’s body. You aren’t the type who can outwit others like that.”
Claudia’s cheeks flushed at the insinuation that she was simpleminded. Embarrassed, she opened her mouth to protest but could find no words to use in her defense. Helen was absolutely right and she knew it.
Helen gently stroked Claudia’s cheek. “Fermina… Your half-sister through your father’s side, yes? She really had you dancing in the palm of her hand, Dee. Piling on offense after offense. If we were to liken this situation to a novel, she basically made you out to be the antagonist. The villainess!”
In her attempts to rid her household of Fermina, Claudia had stooped to nefarious means. Helen insisted this was all part of a grander scheme. In hindsight, Claudia had always been accompanied by someone else whenever she drafted her plans. The ones who had suggested she hire thugs to attack Fermina were part of her own entourage—a collection of fellow female academy students whose families supported the aristocratic faction. None of them faced any consequences for the part they played, though. Only Claudia. It clicked for her that perhaps those girls were actually in cahoots with Fermina.
The political factions within the upper crust have nothing to do with me anymore, but before I was cast out, the aristocracy was split into two groups: the aristocratic faction and the royal faction.
Duke Lindsay, her father, maintained a neutral position, but Fermina in particular was popular among those in the aristocratic faction.
“Pretending to be a weak, fragile woman is a trick we use as well. I can see how you and those around you were all fooled by her act. She’s quite the she-devil.”
“A she-devil, hmm?” Claudia echoed Helen’s words absentmindedly.
“Worse yet, she stole your place and snagged the prince’s hand in marriage.”
The brothel Claudia had landed herself in was a treasure trove of information, thanks to its aristocratic customer base. Recent rumors suggested it was only a matter of time before Claudia’s half-sister became the official crown princess. This came alongside the sneaking suspicion that Fermina had also orchestrated her capture and sale to the brothel.
Claudia sighed. “I can’t believe a rotten snake like her will be the crown princess.”
“This may sound odd, but perhaps that is just the kind of person best suited for such a role.” Helen chuckled and added, “I mean, they couldn’t very well give the position to someone extremely gullible.”
That seemed to describe Claudia. She had definitely been ignorant and foolish in the past. Each time her mind wandered back to her school days, she felt like walloping her younger self.