Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7 To Get The Token

“Celia owns the silk shop, so she calls the shots. I’m not stepping in,” Beatrice said.

Nina bit her tongue, even though she was fuming. She shot Vivian a dirty look, then rushed over to whisper something in Celia’s ear.

Vivian didn’t seem to care. She just narrowed her eyes and glanced toward the east courtyard, where her little brother, Simon Snyder, was staying.

Unlike Vivian, who was switched at birth, Simon grew up as the family’s legitimate heir. Even with an older brother around, he was spoiled rotten, sometimes even more than Celia.

If Vivian remembered right, Simon was in bad shape now. He was knocking on death’s door.

In Vivian’s previous life, Celia had begged outside Moonbay Abbey for three days straight, without food or water, just to get help.

That dedication finally convinced Hadley Kent, the abbess and master healer, to step in. Hadley used acupuncture to pull Simon back from the edge.

But even then, the fever lasted too long and cost him his sight.

After that, the family practically worshipped Celia. Even Simon treated her like a savior, and eventually took an arrow for her.

However, when that scumbag fiancé of hers had locked her up in the family chapel in her previous life, Vivian’d overheard the truth: Hadley wouldn’t lift a finger without a special token.

Every prince had one, and it was good for exactly one favor from her.

If Xavier hadn’t fought with Celia and made her wait three whole days for the token, Simon might’ve kept his sight.

Sure, Xavier coughed it up eventually. But he stalled on purpose; he didn’t give a damn whether Simon lived or died.

Still, Simon was her brother. Vivian couldn’t just sit back and watch a seven-year-old burn up with fever until he went blind.

She had to snag a token as soon as possible and change his fate.

Xavier and Celia were already tight, so getting the token from him was a lost cause.

But there was another one up for grabs: the crown prince Enoch Shelton’s.

Enoch was the late queen’s son, the king’s sixth prince. He was named the crown prince at three, then kidnapped and dumped in the mountains.

Everyone assumed he ended up as wolf chow. Instead, a wolf king took him in, and he actually survived.

For five years, he lived completely wild, tearing into raw meat and surviving on instinct. By the time he came back, Enoch was more beast than boy, totally feral.

The king hated his guts, but Enoch was the spitting image of his late mother. There was no denying who he was.

The king had to grit his teeth and claim him, even while plotting to snatch away his title.

Luckily, the late queen’s family had enough clout to beat the king to the punch. They shipped Enoch off to a military camp to whip him into shape.

The discipline tamed his wild side until he could pass for a civilized human, locking down his spot as the crown prince.

Enoch and the king were always at each other’s throats. Enoch hated being cooped up in Crestdawn Manor, where a crown prince was supposed to live, so he was currently staying at an estate on the edge of Aurestus.

If Vivian could get her hands on his token, Simon stood a chance.

Suddenly, Celia’s voice snapped her back to reality. “Vivian, I’m worried sick about Simon,” Celia said, her eyes red and puffy. “Will you come check on him with me?”

Vivian glanced at her and nodded.

So, Celia, Nina, and Vivian headed over to Serenity Garden, where Simon lived.

When they pushed open the bedroom door, the bitter smell of medicine hit them hard.

Maids hurried in and out with bowls and towels, silent as ghosts. The tension in the room was thick.

Meanwhile, Vivian headed to the crown prince’s estate outside the city.

“Miss Snyder,” Enoch said. He stood tall, hands clasped behind his back, casting a long shadow in the twilight. “Your sister is over at Moonbay Abbey begging for a cure. So, why are you here?”

The air felt heavy, almost suffocating.

“Mother Hadley only cares about the token, not the person,” Vivian replied. “Celia isn’t really asking the abbey for help; she’s waiting for someone else.”

Enoch grew up feral, raised by wolves. He was unpredictable and wild. Vivian knew better than to try and lie to him.

“So, you know I have a token,” Enoch said.

Vivian nodded. “Your Highness, I want to trade a secret for it.”

She looked up, meeting his eyes without flinching.

Staring him down like that was usually a big no-no, but Enoch didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he looked interested. “Go on,” he said. “I’m listening.”

“I passed the Royal Stables on my way here and saw a Friesian inside. Some horsebreakers were feeding it,” Vivian said calmly.

Friesians were famous for their speed and looks; they cost a fortune.

Enoch was obsessed with horses. When he got his hands on that specific Friesian, he treated it like gold, even assigning a special horsebreaker just to take care of it.

No one could have guessed that the horse would one day trample Enoch’s uncle, crushing his chest.

Enoch stepped forward and grabbed Vivian’s chin. “This secret you want to trade,” he said. “Does it have to do with that Friesian?”