PROLOGUE

“You bitch! How dare you do this to me?! I’ll make you pay!”

With fury burning in my veins, I lunged toward her, sword raised. I wanted nothing more than to end this charade—her lies, her theft of my life.

But before my blade could reach her, something sharp tore through me.

“Wh–What...?” My voice cracked. “Who... did this?!”

I staggered back, my strength leaving me as a hot gush of blood soaked through my gown. My knees gave out, crashing to the cold marble floor. The world around me tilted. Footsteps echoed. Slow. Measured. Familiar.

I lifted my eyes.

“...Alastair?” I choked out, blinking through the haze.

But it wasn’t just him. All three of my brothers stood before me—Alexander, Alastair, and Adonis. Their expressions were void of warmth, carved in stone. They weren’t here for me. No... they were standing between me and her. Shielding her.

Protecting her.

“Eve, are you hurt?” Alexander’s voice was gentle—too gentle. A voice once reserved only for me.

She sniffled pathetically, stepping forward with her bloodied sleeve held up. “She… she slashed me, Big Brother… I—I didn’t know why. I was so scared…”

She was lying. I knew it. She always knew how to play them.

“What?! No—I didn’t! I never touched you!” My words came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. Each syllable hurt.

But the look in their eyes wasn’t one of doubt. It was contempt.

The disgust on their faces crushed what little strength I had left. They glared at me as if I were filth… as if I were the villain in this story.

If only I could say I was surprised.

I wasn’t.

I had fought for them—for all of them. I bled for this family. I endured years of isolation, cruelty from the servants, the leers of ministers who came too close in the dark corners of my wing. I bore it all, hoping one day… someone would see me.

When I turned ten, my powers awakened, and for the first time, Father looked at me with pride. But even that faded. Soon, I became just another pawn—used, paraded, discarded.

All I ever wanted was to be loved. Cherished. To feel like I belonged here.

But I was never the daughter they wanted. I was a shadow, a burden, the black sheep.

And now, standing in front of me, they aimed their swords—my brothers. Each one with a blade drawn… each one casting the death spell.

They knew what it meant.

Piercing someone with a sword infused with death magic doesn’t just kill—it devours. Every heartbeat is agony. Every nerve screams. A thousand deaths folded into one.

So that was their choice. A painful end. For me.

I let out a soft, bitter laugh.

“Brothers… thank you.”

My trembling hand reached up. I grasped the tips of their swords, dragging them inward—toward me—toward my own chest. I welcomed the bite of steel. And when the spell took hold, I felt it—the scorching pain, the pull into nothingness.

And still…

A strange peace settled in my chest. For once, there was no more pretending.

As the darkness claimed me, I fell—not in defeat, but into the arms of silence.

And in that final moment, I felt something close to freedom.

Author's Note

Hi! This is Han and I have another work for you to read! I hope that you'll love The Duke's Daughter and I hope that you'll give it support and love. I know that I'm still new to Wattpad writing and I'm doing my best to make every work I do interesting and enjoyable for everyone.

Enjoy your day and always be positive and happy!

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