Chapter 5
“Verdantia?”
Cedric’s voice suddenly rose in volume.
He stared at me for a long while, as if understanding something, and a mocking smile played at his lips.
“Are you trying to use this to force me into a corner? To retreat and advance? Rosamund was legally wed to me; there is no place for you now.”
His words were filled with certainty, as if he couldn’t believe I could ever leave him.
I almost laughed out loud.
I laughed at Cedric, and I laughed at myself.
Five years of marriage, and I never knew he was this kind of person.
I spoke calmly, “My husband is in Verdantia.”
Cedric froze.
His face turned pale, his lips parted, and it took him a long moment to speak.
“You’ve married someone in Verdantia?”
I nodded, gently pulling Lysette past him.
“We’ve both moved on.”
His hand suddenly reached out and grabbed the corner of my coat.
With force, he almost tore the fabric.
He no longer wore the usual detached expression, now speaking through clenched teeth, “I’m the King’s favored councilor now. What lord in Verdantia could match that? Some penniless knight? You’d live in a hovel for him?”
In the end, his voice grew weaker, almost choking.
I turned around, not wanting to look at him.
“We’re not the same, Cedric. I don’t care about titles. Only him.”
Cedric refused to release me:
His eyes reddened, but his face grew darker still.
“What about Lysette and Edric? You no longer care about them?”
Lysette tightened her grip on my hand, her body trembling slightly.
“Lysette will come with me. As for Edric…”
I hesitated.
“He doesn’t want to acknowledge me, so let him be.”
I had left him a way out.
That was the best I could do.
Cedric tried to stop me.
I briefly loosened my grip on Lysette’s hand, pulled out a dagger, and cut the fabric that was caught in his grasp.
An unseen guard appeared, a sword blocking Cedric’s path, preventing him from advancing any further.
Cedric was forced to stop, though still unwilling to let go.
“Lysette is a Blackthorn!” he shouted.
I took my daughter’s hand.
“Not anymore.”
