The Last Bow

esided, a large gathering of maids, servants, and the estate's female members huddled toge

lamity, stood helplessly amidst the chaos, her face pale with

tyard, snatching at whatever valuables and food they could get their hands on. Their fea

as straight, her bearing elegant. She did not join in the panic; rather, she observed the servants

Are you all the reincarnations of starving wretches? When has the Chancellor's Estate ever deprived you

meone. Stumbling slightly, she remained dazed. These words struc

f realization settled in her chest-she had been reborn

n ransacked, its men exiled to the farthest reaches of the kingdom, and

d the wrong faction in a political struggle, and his rivals ha

what little silver she could scavenge and later bribed her way into the Bu

less, accusing her of currying favor with servant

ered the Bureau with nothing but a broken zither and

r nobility, chose to kneel before their enemies and debase herself for survival. She became the concubine of Prince Dominic and severed all ties with the fall

elf in the wrong. No, she had justi

They were the ones who failed. Now that I have climbed to the top, should I l

moment. Back in her young body, back

smooth, unmarked by hardship, nothing like the frail and emaciat

en to the ground. Without hesitation, Eleanor stepped forward, picked up the bun, split it in two, a

nly that her stepmother and younger sisters

a bright moon in the sky, untethered by mortal needs. She does not require food. But we a

d from this moment on, no one would be there to serve them. The

d sister, you are the daughter of the Chancellor! How could you stoop so low as to snatc

ned to face her,

opriety, decorum, and the dignity of nobility. She had built an image of

to reap the benefits of their family's suf

working tirelessly behind the scenes to pave her way to

nor Quinn would not le

mother, stepmother, and younger sisters survived. She would find a way to save

as she stepped forward, closing the dis

ifying glint flickered within them. The other women in

ng lady developed such

hout warning, she reached out and ruthlessly yanked t

alp and earlobes. Some strands of her perfectly maintained black hair were

yes wide with disbelief. "Elea

gs with a silk handkerchief, then hande

t need food or drink. And if that is the case, surely these earthly possess

was calm,

and our mother. I'm sure