The Past Haunted Her

"I never knew that a cold person like you can be kind to a woman." Ana's feet paused for a second when she heard the teasing voice of Nathan but then started walking away and soon their voices faded.

If it would have been her past self, she would have sat there even if the god had personally come and asked her to leave. To guard Garry against Meredith 

Everyone knew that Meredith wanted to marry Garry but his majesty refused, saying he had already lost his one daughter in that house.

It was a hot topic that Ana was only able to marry so fast because his majesty wanted Garrison to marry as soon as possible. So that Meredith could give up on him.

Ha! Give up! Did the princess even know the meaning of these two simple words? Ana was sure that Meredith was behind half of her downfall. And that man, Garrison, must have wanted to marry Meredith too. That was the reason he had treated her badly.

Her eyes turned colder and colder until no warmth was left in them.

She remembered how he had left their room on their first night telling her that she was filthy and he would not touch her.

After that, she had tried to cross paths with him many times to apologize even without knowing her mistake, but he only treated her with hatred and annoyance as if she was a pest bugging him.

She was shattered with his acts but then Greta told her she could gain his attention if she would perform well in her duties. From there, her downfall started.

Ana was told not to ask for help from her maiden family if she did not get accounts right or did not know how to organize a function, since it would make Garrison insulted.

She was told not to bring her friends often. It would make her look like a vain woman.

She was told to work hard, that was the only way to gain appreciation.

She was told that she should not worry about the child, there were many to take care of him. It was not her child anyway. And if not for the child, Garrison would have paid more attention to her.

Ana believed every word. When Greta told her that she did not want the princes but as the duchess and would help Ana to hold the position tightly, Ana believed every word of Greta.

She never noticed how her relationships with her family severed. How she did not have friends anymore. She was insulted by her wrong accounts and pathetic work every time even when she was giving all her time in learning it. She should have realized that she was taught wrongly. But no..

Just the thought of it made her heart burn. If only she could kill that woman. But then, if Greta would die, she would never be sure if it was Meredith or Garry behind that woman or if it were both of them.

They both planned against her so that they could get rid of her and marry each other.

No matter who it was.. She was going to teach both of them a lesson they would never forget.

Ana stopped walking and looked at the door, in her thoughts, she had already reached the door of the chamber of Rowan. She had lied that she was going to sleep with him but now.. What shall she do?

If she left for her room and then Meredith was told about it, she would be a joke. Worse, if Garry would know about it, he would think that she was a liar again!

But.. should she just go in and ask Rowan that she wanted to sleep with him? What if the child refused. She shifted her weight from one leg to another a few times until a maid noticed her and invited in.

"My lady, do you need anything?" she asked politely as she passed a glass of water to Ana who smiled gratefully.

"Umm, is Rowan sleeping?" If he was, she could inform that she did not disturb the child since he was already sleeping after waiting for her for a long time. They would not be able to question her then.

"Ah! Yes! It is already…" 4am! Ana knew. She stood up abruptly.

"Then I will come some other time." She wanted to leave but the maid stopped her again.

"That would not be needed, my lady. Young lord wakes up at 5am. If you wait here for a bit, he will be able to meet you." oh! She never knew that he woke up so early.

"I can bring you some tea and snacks till then. Or you can take a warm bath. You look cold." her heart was cold! She had seen all her enemies in a single day. It was a long and exhausting day for her and it took all her strength to not kill any of them.

"A bath would be nice. Will you help me?" The maid nodded her head readily and a bath was arranged. Ana dipped herself in the hot water and closed her eyes.

"Kill the witch"

"Hang her to death!"

Her eyes opened abruptly when the scenes from her past danced in front of her eyes. Her sudden jerk stunned the maid who was rubbing her back.

"Did I make a mistake, my lady?" Ana blinked and looked around. It took her stiff body a moment to realize where she was..

"No! I think I have just fallen asleep and had a bad dream." she took a deep breath as she closed her eyes again when the eyes of the maid softened.

"I can understand your worries, my lady. After all, the palace is full of nightmares."