From Loser to Queen

On the eve of the royal consort selection, an intruder broke in through the window and abducted me. Hours later, the intruder cast me down from the carriage, disheveled and exposed upon Piccadilly Street. Crowds gathered round, pointing and murmuring, 'My reputation is ruined and forever lost. ' Wretched girl! You have defiled our family's honor. Take your own life! Father, please no. Felix Ashbritton begs for the hand of Lady Isolde. I shall honor her for all the rest of my days. I was married to Felix. My halfsister Cecily took my place in the royal consort selection. She gained the most coveted position within the court of the Prince of Waleschief lady's maid. You ruined her reputation and yet married her. The Hamiltons have become the laughing stock of London's high society. She bears seven parts resemblance to Cecily; that is enough. Furthermore, the family's crippling debts require her status and fortune. I died in childbirth, my child did not survive. I had been reborn. Back to the night before the royal selection. None of you will escape me this time. Good evening, sister. What brings you here so late at night? I made this myself; it is a farewell gift for you. After all, tomorrow is the royal consort selection. Chloroform... how familiar this scent is. I am not afraid I am just doing my utmost to stop myself from wringing her neck right. now Won't you drink it Isolde, is something wrong? I was just thinking it feels odd to drink alone, have a drink with me, Cicely. Tomorrow's your big day, sister. This wine was made just for you. Indulge me this once; since it is a farewell toast, we ought to drink together. The wine has turned cold. Let me pour us two fresh cups. No need; let me do the pouring for you. Every detail of this night is etched deep into my bones. The Cloak Reform is real and I will use it. just not on myself. Enjoy your new life, dear sister. The time has come. Hurry, go faster, take her away.

The Hamiltons, three years ago, they framed my father and let him die in Newgate Prison. I have waited for this opening for three long years. Specter, the Thorn household reported the second young lady has been abducted; the situation is complicated. Just the usual tricks of the nobles. Let's go take a look. No hysterics, no tears. This Miss Thorn is far too calm. Mrs. Ledthorne, I am Inspector Arthur Rowe from Scotland Yard. Inspector Rowe, thank you for coming late at night. I will show you the scene. The cordial has an odd odor. These are signs of a struggle and drag. Gouge marks left by hard objects. The culprit escaped through this window. You are extraordinarily calm, hardly the demeanor of a delicate noble lady who has just faced mortal danger. Panic changes nothing. Rather than weeping, I would sooner see the criminal hang. Inspector, the culprit seems to have dropped something. Do you recognize this, Miss Thorn? I saw an identical one at Villik Pembroke's ball last month, on whom Felix Ashworth, the heir of the Hamilton family, though I might be mistaken. She is not mistaken, we both know it, this is a perfect trap handed right to me. Seal off Hamilton Manor, not so much as a sparrow takes wing from these grounds, send forth the coroner posthaste. Inspector, the overnight report from the public analytic laboratory rushed through urgently.

Residue in the wine glass contains high concentration chloroform enough to keep an adult woman unconscious for over six hours. Such dosage may trigger respiratory failure. This wine was brought to me by my sister Cecily herself. She lied and said she brewed it with her own hands. Too flawless. Every tear, every prearranged accusation. She is making use of me. Yet I am exactly in need of this knife. Your two accomplices have fully confessed. All promises from Cecily were nothing but a scam. Will you keep hiding and condemn yourself to felony charges? I only followed orders. Miss Cecily forced me to pass word to Felix, I watched her pour the drug into the sweet wine with my own eyes, I truly knew nothing else. Miss Thurns. we hold physical evidence. two witness statements plus Ella's signed confession alongside the family crest. The case is ironclad beyond dispute. That is excellent news, Inspector. One matter to confirmyou stated that Cecily left the room temporarily, and you returned in time to spot the abductor escaping through the window. That is correct. She lied, she personally handed her sister over to that brute. this woman is as cold and calculating as a ruthless politician, and I admire it. Launch a city wild manhunt, arrest Felix Ashworth on site, detain Sissy Thorn immediately once located. Extra, extra, Hamilton air arrested, shocking scandal on the eve of royal selection.

This is the personal ignia of the Hamilton Air, a one of a kind piece across the whole country. In my past life, Felix lied that he dropped it during a visit, and my foolish father believed every word. Help me now, Miss! What has happened? A man took Sessy away. He climbed in through the east window and carried my sister off. I saw him escape over the wall with my own eyes. Scandals within noble families are always buried in secret, never to be spread. If I send for the authorities, the Earl will surely have my skin. If my sister suffers harm because of even one second of your delay, you will answer directly to the Earl. What's more, tonight is the royal curfew decreed by Her Majesty the Queen. If you dare to cover up a violent crime against a noble lady during curfew, you will face not only the gallows of Scotland Yard but also the wrath of the Royal Family. Tell me. which do you prefer? I'll get the horses at once. I'll go straight to Scotland Yard! Lila, come here. Miss, what are your orders? Go to the Bull Tavern, find the correspondent from The Times, give him this, and tell him the personal insignia of the Hamilton heir was found at the crime scene in the Thorn Manor. tonight. Miss, this will stir up public opinion across all of London. That is exactly what I want. Do not say another word. Let that scandalchasing hound sniff out the truth and draw his own conclusions. Understood, miss. I leave now. By early morning tomorrow, this scandal will spread everywhere. Such reckless behavior. What has happened? Cecily has been abducted. A man broke in through the east roof window last night and took her away. The servants have already sent word to Scotland Yard. You sent for Scotland Yard without consulting me, the head of this house at all. A life is at stake. There was no time to waste. There is always time to think. Do you have any idea what this means? For the family reputation, I know exactly what you are going to say. Listen, the royal consort selection is held today. Both the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria will attend in person. If word gets out that the heir of the Hamilton family committed such a heinous crime of drugging and assault, and the Thorn family covered up evidence to protect him, we will become more than just a laughing stock across London. We will be utterly destroyed. Your title of Earl. your valued seat in the cabinet, everything will be revoked by the Queen. But think differently, if our family takes the initiative and brings the criminal to justice, then the Thorn family will be seen as loyal subjects who uphold Her Majesty's laws even under strict curfew, it will be a perfect tale to go down in history. My Lord, men from Scotland Yard have arrived, Inspector Arthur Rowe is leading the team. Show the inspector in.