The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 408

Citrine hadn’t planned on lingering—she just wanted to take a quick look from afar and leave. But now that everyone had spotted her, there was no point in hiding.

She curved her lips into a smile, her tone light.

“I heard you lost the last drill. Thought I’d stop by and see how you’re holding up.” Despite her words, there wasn’t a trace of blame in her voice.

After what had just happened, the soldiers finally realized how far off their game they’d been lately.

Hearing Citrine speak, they immediately tensed up, scrambling to assure her.

“Instructor Carmichael, we know we messed up. We swear, we’ll train twice as hard from now on!”

“Yeah, next drill, we’ll wipe the floor with those cocky Magnolia boys.”

“That’s right—next time we’ll win, no matter what.”

Citrine couldn’t help but find their eagerness to redeem themselves a little amusing.

She’d seen more battles than she could count, and as she looked at these fresh-faced recruits, she felt a familiar flicker of worry—that’s what had brought her here in the first place.

She knew all too well how dangerous it could be for a soldier to get stuck in their own head. After all, she was living proof.

Suddenly, Citrine asked, “Do you all know what the last line of the Vermillion Vanguard’s oath really means—‘never forget why you started’?”

Someone quickly replied, “It means to remember our mission and purpose, always push forward, never back down.”

“Exactly.” Citrine nodded, clearly pleased.

None of their eyes lingered on her skin. Instead, every gaze locked onto the old scar across her upper back.

They all knew what it meant. After countless drills and endless theory lessons, every soldier understood: a wound that close to the heart—just a centimeter away—was almost always fatal.

Hastings stared, stunned, his eyes growing red. “What happened?” he asked quietly. He’d had no idea she’d ever taken a bullet.

Citrine didn’t answer him right away.

She turned to show them the scar on her chest, then spoke calmly. “That bullet went straight through me—front to back. For a moment I thought I was dead. But fate had other ideas. I’m still here.”

As she slipped her jacket back on, her voice was slow, almost casual. “You want to know what happened in that war? Want to hear how I got these scars?”