Chapter 3

That's why, later, he made me soak in cold water all night long.

He wanted me to lose my ability to bear children entirely. He didn't want me to give him a child.

He found me disgusting.

I wiped the medicinal liquid from the corner of my mouth. Before I could speak, a joyous report came from outside.

"Chieftain! Lady Celeste has been examined by the imperial physician—she is with child!"

Draven's expression froze for a moment, then his voice became excited: "Are you serious? Celeste is pregnant?"

My gaze remained blank, watching the elation of impending fatherhood bloom on his face.

Perhaps the virus was gnawing at me again. My hand instinctively clutched my chest. It ached so fiercely there.

I had originally hoped that when the poison took full effect, I would just quietly die.

But Draven insisted I go serve Celeste at this very moment.

He knew exactly how to inflict the most cruel torment.

He wanted me to witness, with my own eyes, another woman bearing his children.

While our child, ripped from my womb by his own hands, remained buried on the back hill—a solitary grave, not even worthy of a tombstone.

Celeste smiled at me, a soft, gentle smile.

"The Chieftain sent you to serve me. I can't really make you do strenuous work, so please just clean this place thoroughly."

I picked up the broom, looking at the peach blossoms.

Others glared at me openly, their voices harsh.

"Leaving her in the desolate chambers to slowly die is already merciful. Our Lady is truly kind, even calling her 'sister'."

"What golden child, born of privilege? She's clearly worse than the lowest servant. The Chieftain abandoned her long ago. If I were her, I'd be too ashamed to live."

Red rashes slowly began to appear on my skin, an allergic reaction.

I gasped for breath, and suddenly felt a warm liquid trickle from my nose.

I reached up to touch it, and froze.

"Ah!"

Celeste saw my blood-covered face and was immediately overwhelmed with shock.

Draven rushed in at the news. Without a word, he slapped me.

The force of it sent me sprawling to the ground, scattering a flurry of peach petals. I began to cough.

"Celeste cannot stand the smell of blood right now! Are you deliberately trying to harm her?!"

His eyes were as cold as ice blades. "Just because your child died, you want revenge on others? Seraphina, have you forgotten the consequences of disobedience?"

How could I forget?

Enduring the itching on my skin and the pain in my lungs, I knelt on the ground, admitting my mistake.

"It's my fault, it's my fault. Please, Chieftain, spare my life..."

"My mother's remains have already been destroyed by you, and my father's and brother's graves have been burned clean. Chieftain, I have nothing left."

Draven crouched down, lifting my chin.

He smirked, "Who says you have nothing left?"

"Isn't there still one buried on the back hill?"

I clutched his hand desperately, my eyes bloodshot. "Please, I beg you, Draven..."

"Don't do that. You can't do that."

I couldn't recall how long it had been since I had called him by his name.

Draven's eyes were downcast, turbulent emotions churning within them.

I couldn't decipher them, only sensing that he hesitated. I continued to kowtow, pleading.

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Until the ground was stained a vivid crimson, more brilliant than the peach blossoms.

Blood flowed from my nose, I coughed up blood from my mouth, and even bloody tears streamed from my eyes...

Draven finally realized that the amount of blood I had lost these past two days seemed... excessive.

He frowned, asking those nearby, "Was she doing any heavy labor in this courtyard earlier that would cause this?"

"Reporting, Chieftain. Lady Celeste, in her kindness, only had her do light cleaning tasks. Everyone can attest to it."

Draven immediately released me, letting out a series of cold laughs. "Seraphina, you're having another one of your fits, aren't you?"

"You've had this strange illness for so many years now. Since you won't die from it, you might as well suffer through it!"

I watched him step over me, entering the palace without a backward glance.

I let out a very soft breath.

I curled into a ball, unmoving, until night fell, and peach blossoms covered me completely.

Candlelight glowed within the palace, and Celeste's delicate voice faintly reached my ears.

"Oh, Chieftain, you mustn't. I'm with child, you know."

"You're awful... If the Chieftain desires me so much, you must promise to be gentle, okay?"

Silhouettes danced on the paper screens. I watched their intimate night in silence.

I suddenly remembered the night Draven and I were married. There was no formal ceremony, no rituals. He simply pinned me to the grasslands, under the open sky, fierce and wild.

I had thought it was the custom of his tribe, and swallowed all my grievances.

But at his later coronation as Emperor, I finally understood. He treated Celeste with such tenderness and respect.

Dawn was breaking.

This was my last day.

Draven, I am dying. The one you hate will soon be utterly extinguished.

Congratulations.

The main door suddenly burst open.

The man walked out, looking down at me.

"I told you to serve Celeste. Is *this* how you slack off?"