Chapter 3
On the way, we were stopped by a miad of Guinevere. She said that Guinevere had a headache and wanted to see Vince.
Vince furrowed his brows and immediately dismounted the carriage.
“Gwen’s not feeling well. I need to go check on her. You head back to the manor first. We’ll meet at The Astral Keep in the evening.”
I nodded. “Alright.”
He seemed a bit surprised. “Weren’t you always opposed to me going to see her? Why the change?”
I opened my mouth to say something, but he sneered again. “Well, I suppose it’s different now. We’re about to marry, after all. She doesn’t pose a threat to you anymore.”
He left without seeing the look of sorrow and bitter smile on my face.
In truth, I had never tried to stop him from favoring Guinevere.
There was only one time when I had discovered that Guinevere had an affair with a court official. After further investigation, it turned out she wasn’t innocent.
That’s when I desperately tried to prevent Vince from getting too close to her.
But he knew nothing of it, and after her death, he suffered for ten long years.
If I had to choose, I would have preferred to see him with Guinevere, rather than let him endure such torment, only to die for me.
I first went to the town hall to complete the necessary paperwork for leaving the city, then returned to the estate.
Lady Mother was in the kitchen, preparing a table full of dishes that I loved.
I habitually removed my white fox fur cloak and draped it over Lady Mother’s shoulders. “It’s cold, Lady Mother. You must take care of your health.”
Lady Mother looked at me, her face lighting up with joy. “Sera, you’re so considerate. Show me the royal marriage decree with Vince. I’ve been waiting for this moment. Finally, you’ll officially become my daughter–in–law.”
Lord Father, seeing that no one else was with me, puffed up in anger, his cheeks flushing.
“Where is that boy? He didn’t come back with you? The marriage decree has already been issued. How can he not show you the care you deserve? When he comes back, I’ll give him a good scolding!”
Lord Father and Lady Mother’s genuine concern filled me with a sharp ache.
After my parents died in battle, I became an orphan, and Lord Father and Lady Mother raised me with love, giving me everything I had.
I had always been obedient, but now, I was about to defy them.
I looked at them seriously. “Father, Mother, I won’t marry the heir.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll go south. From now on, I won’t be at your side anymore. You two must take good care of yourselves.”
Lady Mother froze for a moment and then panicked. “Your parents died in battle. You grew up in our household, and this estate is your home. Where will you go now? Is it because of that woman, Guinevere, that Vince has been mistreating you? Is that why you don’t want to marry him?”
She continued. “His heart is with you. If it weren’t, he wouldn’t have risked his life to save you twice. Every year on your birthday, he would go out of his way to gather rare treasures for you. I know you also care for Vince. You’ve learned cooking for him and even helped him with his hand aches every day. If you marry him, you two will be happy! Besides, Guinevere’s a viper coiled in silk. We can’t let her schemes prevail. Don’t let your anger make you leave!” They had tried to convince me the same way in my past life.
Until I became a widow. Until they buried their son. Until regret choked us all.
1 gently wiped away the tears from Lady Mother’s eyes and spoke softly.
“Lady Mother, a forced apple sours the barrel. Vince’s heart doesn’t belong to me. I shouldn’t force him to marry me.”
My throat tightened. “I had a dream last night. In the dream, he married me, but he avoided me. He worked himself to the bone, exhausting himself to the point of injury. He refused to drink the soup I made him and wouldn’t let me care for him when he tell ill. He said the pain I brought him outweighed the happiness. In the end, he died at thirty while trying to save ine.”
Chapter 3
