Those had been some of the best days of my life–so good that even after we became sworn enemies, the memory of them could still bring tears to my pillow on countless sleepless nights.
It was the third year of our marriage, the forty–first year of the new king’s reign.
Vance’s career soared, and he rose to the rank of chamberlain.
The very moment the royal edict arrived, Vance appeared in full mourning attire and knelt in the Throne Room.
It was then I learned the truth that Vance was the son of the Kreston family, who had once been executed to the last member.
Years ago, when Silvershade suffered a devastating flood and its people were left homeless, Mr. Kreston was ordered to oversee disaster relief. A shipment of a hundred thousand bushels of grain was sent to aid the region, but by the time it reached Silvershade, it had turned into coarse grain laced with sand and mud.
When word of this reached the capital of Asteria, the king flew into a rage.
To clear himself of suspicion, my father–who had tampered with the supplies–pinned all the blame on Mr. Kreston and used him as a scapegoat.
That fateful encounter behind Holy Well had also been a trap Vance had meticulously set in advance.
One hundred and eight innocent lives of the Kreston family were lost beneath the executioner’s blade.
Vance had waited for me in a tree he had chosen with care, watching as I walked step by step into the snare he’d laid.
When I fell, my body slammed against the ground with sickening force. Blood gushed from my nose and mouth.
I saw a sky full of stars and Vance’s panicked face hovering above me.
Everything… was over.
But to my surprise, I didn’t die.
Near the top of the Nocturne Tower, about ten meters from its peak, there was a narrow terrace.
I crashed onto it. My internal organs were severely damaged, but I survived.
Vance carried me home himself and called a doctor.
While waiting, he stared at my broken, blood–soaked body lying on the bed, barely breathing.
He couldn’t even recall how he had managed to carry me back–only that I had lain in his arms like a shattered butterfly, fragile and on the brink of disappearing.
The doctor rushed into the room, medical bag in hand. Blood–soaked cloths piled up quickly as he worked.
Vance’s eyes were bloodshot, and his brows hadn’t relaxed for a moment since bringing me home.
Lena entered wrapped in a cloak. There was unmistakable joy in her eyes.
She had hoped I would die–hoped that my death would erase me completely from Vance’s heart.
Then she could become the lady of the house, and any child she bore would be the legitimate and first born heir. Chapter 5
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Lena was the illegitimate daughter of a court official in Asteria. Her status had always been a chasm she could never
cross–not in life, not in death.
So she had heartlessly aborted her own child just to frame me for it.
What she hadn’t expected was that Vance never even investigated. He simply handed the blame to me.
She believed that even if Vance refused to give her the title of wife, he must still love her deep down.
So she reached out to take his hand, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Vance,” she whispered, sobbing softly, “the Goddess of Fortune will surely protect Selene. She’ll be fine.”
Vance didn’t move. His eyes were red as he glared at her.‘
“Get out.”
Lena thought she had misheard. She tightened her grip on his hand.
“Vance, don’t be upset-”
“I told you to get out!”
Vance tore his hand away, his voice boiling with rage. “From now on, you are not allowed to set foot in this room again.”
Lena stumbled back a few steps and fell to the floor.
She looked up at him in disbelief. “My lord… what did I do wrong to make you this angry?”
“I’m just as worried about Selene as you are,” she added, “but we still need to take care of ourselves, don’t we?”
Tears streamed down Lena’s cheeks, her face the very picture of innocent sorrow and misunderstood pain.
Vance’s expression darkened to steel. He looked at her coldly.
“I thought you’d understand with just a hint. Clearly, I overestimated your intelligence.”
“You really think I don’t know what happened to the child you were carrying?”
Lena’s face went pale, and her voice trembled. “My lord, I… I don’t understand what you mean.”
“There must be some misunderstanding. Please, let me explain-”
She crawled to his feet, begging, but Vance kicked her away with disgust.
“Letting you frame Selene with that child was the single most shameful mistake I’ve ever made.”
Then he looked toward the doorway. “Guards! Take Miss Vale away.”
“Confine her to her room for reflection. She’s not to come out without my permission.”
Several guards rushed in and lifted Lena from the floor.
Her clothes were in disarray, and her face was streaked with tears.
“No! Vance, you can’t do this to mel Vance-”
Even though she cried and pleaded, the guards dragged her away.
Chapter 5
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Vance stared out into the endless night, then turned his gaze to the closed door of the inner room.
Selene, even if you hate me, please… give me a chance to make things right.
The lights at Chamberlain Castle stayed on through the night.
When the doctor emerged, his tunic was soaked in blood.
Vance rushed to meet him.
“Dr. Lucian, will my wife be all right? How is she?”
His voice trembled. Though the door to the inner room stood open, he didn’t dare look inside.
He was too afraid of seeing something he couldn’t bear.
The doctor gave a grave reply. “Her life… has been saved. But…”
Vance’s face, which had just shown a flicker of hope, fell again.
“But what?”
“Her will to live is very weak. Whether she wakes up… will depend entirely on luck.”
