Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

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Sylvia had borne silent witness in Vivian’s previous life. She watched the man who was to marry Vivian harvest her lifeblood, only to offer it, still warm, to Celia.

Vivian never understood why Celia wanted her dead. The truth only came to her when the System revealed it.

Celia held a Fate-Reversal Enchantment that allowed her to steal Vivian’s fortune.

To complete the theft, she needed Vivian’s heart and blood.

With that, Celia could finally manifest the cuckoo’s phantom, making it bloom with nine Golden Plumes. Only then would she be able to claim Vivian’s Phoenix Fate and seize the throne.

Her father, Quentin, thought her unworthy of notice.

But she had truly believed Sylvia was her own mother. In her previous life, Vivian never once doubted her, never imagining that Sylvia was the one who had set her up to die.

If Sylvia had not swapped her and Celia’s identities, Celia would never have risen so high.

Celia owed her crown to Sylvia, a mother who paved her way to power.

The carriage was silent all the way back to the Aurea Manor. As it came to a stop, Vivian lifted the curtain and saw an unfamiliar maid from the palace lean close to Celia, whispering something.

Standing nearby, Nina listened with eyes growing wide in surprise.

The moment the maid was gone, Nina turned to Celia, her voice brimming with envy. “Celia, His Majesty wants to reward you. It’s the highest honor.”

Vivian froze when she heard the word “reward.”

In her previous life, Celia had been honored by the king for saving Nicholas. That single act had made her the example for every noble daughter.

Vivian had thought that by saving Edward, she had ended Celia’s chance at glory. Yet the same fate was unfolding before her.

It seemed she would have to be more patient. Taking back her fortune would require careful steps, not haste,

After all, her life was already better now. There were no false accusations of scheming her way into a prince’s bed, no days of shameful confinement in the family chapel.

She was grateful for this much, and she would not lose heart.

Celia was the thief. Everything Vivian did now was simply reclaiming what had been stolen from her.

Nina’s excited words floated across the place, just loud enough for Beatrice and Flora to hear.

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Chapter 14

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Flora took Celia’s hand, her face a blend of pride and fear. “My darling, never risk yourself like that again. You worry me so.”

Celia’s eyes glistened as she melted into Flora’s hug. She nestled close, whispering “Mother” softly against her shoulder.

Sylvia smiled faintly, but her knuckles were pale where she gripped her handkerchief.

Vivian could feel Sylvia’s hidden pain.

Sylvia’s father had been an official, though not a prominent one. Yet being a concubine’s daughter meant her prospects were limited from the start.

Even her striking beauty couldn’t secure her the status of a true wife. In the end, she married Quentin as nothing more than a concubine, carried in a plain sedan chair.

For nearly two decades, she had lived in Flora’s shadow as a concubine. Quentin’s favor did little to change her place. Her birth ensured she would always be second to Flora.

She had learned to live with her own fate. But she refused to let her daughter suffer the same shame just because of how she was born.

So Sylvia hardened her heart and switched her child with Flora’s.

From then on, her daughter lived with perfect standing. Yet Sylvia could never hear Celia call her “mother” in front of others.

In society’s eyes, Celia’s mother could only ever be Flora, the Duchess of Aurea.

As the Snyders walked ahead, Vivian noticed a familiar face and deliberately lingered a few steps behind.

A young attendant from the Hunting Palace slipped a note into her hand.

She waited until she was back in her room to open it. The words written inside made both her and the System go still.

*****

Three days later, the king’s herald arrived at Aurea Manor.

The entire Snyder family had gathered in the courtyard to receive him, with Beatrice and Quentin at their head.

The herald cleared his throat and read from the parchment in a formal, ringing voice, “By order of His Majesty the king, Miss Snyder is honored for her bravery and selflessness in saving a child from a wild animal.

“Her courage reflects the highest ideals of nobility. By the will and favor of His Majesty, she is hereby granted a box of gold coins and a chest of pearls.”

A deep blush of pride warmed Celia’s cheeks. She was celebrated from a young age and used to the company

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Chapter 14

of royalty, but this public honor from the king himself was beyond anything she had imagined.

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Aurestus was full of accomplished young women, yet none of them had ever received a royal reward before their marriage.

The gold coins were a generous gift, but the pearls were something far greater. They were a treasure beyond price, a symbol of royal favor.

It was just as Nina had said. This was the highest honor imaginable.

There had been a scandal involving an underwear during the recent royal hunt. Though Xavier contained most of the talk, it still left a mark on Celia’s name.

This royal decree felt like a long-awaited rain after a drought, finally washing away the lingering shame of her

past.

Celia bit her lip, silently reminding herself to keep her emotions in check in front of the herald.

Once settled, she stepped forward, sank into a deep curtsy, and bowed her head. “I’m grateful for His Majesty’s favor,” she said respectfully.

But no reply came from the herald.

Puzzled, she looked up to see the royal herald wearing an awkward expression. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but remained silent.

Her eyes instinctively went to Quentin.

Sensing something was wrong, Quentin asked, “Is there an issue?”

Standing beside Flora, Sylvia listened intently.

The herald hesitated, and then spoke in a low voice, “Your Grace, the royal favor is intended for your second daughter, Lady Vivian, not Lady Celia.”

“That cannot be,” Sylvia breathed out, unable to believe what she had just heard.

Celia was everything a noblewoman should be, while Vivian faded into the background. Sylvia could only conclude there had been some kind of mistake.

Although a flicker of disappointment passed through her, Flora’s own noble upbringing would not allow for something as petty as jealousy. Vivian was, in a sense, her daughter too. And so, a sincere gladness for her quietly bloomed.

What Flora could not understand was why Sylvia was reacting with such intensity.

Flora’s puzzled look jolted Sylvia back to her senses. In the eyes of the world, she was not Celia’s mother. She had to remember her station and behave accordingly.

“Vivian is from a lesser line,” Sylvia said softly, trying to explain herself. “For her to be honored above Celia… I never imagined it.”

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Chapter 14

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Celia remained standing where she was, her mind reeling, unable to accept what had just happened.

Just days before, one of Xavier’s maids had sent word that the king planned to honor a young lady of the Snyder family. Celia, of course, had taken for granted it would be her.

As Sylvia had put it, this royal decree defied all reason. The highborn daughter should always come first. To favor a lesser line like this went against all tradition and proper order.

Celia seethed with fury inside, yet she dared not voice a word of complaint.

She knew the king’s will was absolute. Once a decree was given, it could not be challenged.

Quentin’s surprise had passed. He turned toward Vivian, who stood quietly in the corner, and motioned her forward. “Vivian, come and acknowledge the king’s generosity.”

Vivian obeyed, stepping forward to bow gracefully and express her gratitude for the king’s favor.

Celia watched, her heart poisoned with envy. Her beautiful face twisted into an ugly mask of resentment, and she tasted blood where she had bitten her lip.

‘Everything always goes her way,’ Celia thought bitterly.

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