Chapter 5

Mathias' voice was cold as ice, and it scared Mireille so much that she trembled while trying to pull Seraphina along with her to kneel. Seraphina tolerated the pain as she knelt with her mother and quickly said, "My mother and I were talking about Cordelia's wedding."

Mathias frowned as he swept glances at Mireille and Seraphina, but he did not ask any more questions as he carried Cordelia in his arms and headed to her room.

Mireille quickly helped Seraphina to her room. She carefully cleaned Seraphina's wounds under the candlelight while tears streamed down her face.

"Do you hate me, Seraphina?" She sobbed. "I'm forcing you to marry so far away…"

Seraphina shook her head. "Why would I hate you? I accepted this marriage proposal willingly."

"Really?" Mireille's hand paused. "Can you really forget about that man?"

Seraphina froze. She remembered how she had told Mireille three years ago that she was in love with a man who had promised to marry her. Mireille had believed her then and relented when Seraphina kept pushing away any idea of marriage.

Seraphina forced a smile. "Mother, what man are you talking about? I made that lie up."

The medicine almost fell from Mireille's hand. "What?"

"I lied to you because I wanted a few more years with you." Seraphina looked down, afraid to meet her mother's eyes. "Don't take it seriously."

The candlelight flickered in the night, shining its light on Mireille's tear-streaked face. She caressed her daughter's face with trembling hands. "You silly child. It doesn't matter if you were lying or telling the truth. It's all in the past now."

"You're right. It's all in the past now." Seraphina nodded and continued with a sigh, "It's time to wake up from my dream."

Mireille held Seraphina in her arms and patted her back just as she did for Seraphina when she was young. "When you arrive at the borders, focus on your new life. General Sterling is a good man who will take good care of you."

Seraphina leaned her head on Mireille's shoulders as she nodded gently. The Seraphina who only had eyes for Mathias was completely 'dead'. From now on, she would be the wife of General Sterling at the border and would no longer have anything to do with Caventon or Mathias.

After that day, Seraphina kept herself busy at home to prepare for her upcoming wedding. However, Princess Aurelia, the ninth princess, was hosting a winter garden party, and she had extended an invitation to the womenfolk of the House of Montclair, which meant Seraphina had to attend as well.

There was laughter everywhere in the royal garden. The moment Seraphina arrived, she saw Mathias heading toward the garden while holding Cordelia's hand. He was dressed in dark blue and looked handsome yet aloof. Cordelia was wearing a bright red cape and looked ravishing in the garden of white.

"His Highness treats Lady Cordelia with such care."

The ladies around Seraphina started whispering amongst themselves.

"I heard that His Highness personally helped Lady Cordelia put on her hair ornaments."

"They're close because they grew up together. What an envious sight they are."

"His Highness' love story will become legendary if they continue being in love as they grow old together."

Seraphina lowered her head to sip her tea. It was warm, but it could not warm her cold fingers."

"Oh, stop it…" Cordelia suddenly said shyly as she blushed and stood up. "I'm heading off to admire the flowers!"

Mathias quickly took off his coat to put it on her. When he leaned over, an exquisite scented bag fell out of his pocket with a clatter.

Aurelia was sharp-eyed enough to spot it and picked the bag up. "This embroidery must be Cordelia's work." She smiled and teased, "Mathias must love it a lot if he brings it with him everywhere."

Seraphina almost dropped her cup. The scented bag was a gift from her to Mathias three years ago, and there was a small picture of her inside. Mathias had rejected every gift she gave him except for this scented bag, and it was his acceptance of the bag that made her think that he had feelings for her.

"What's inside the bag, Mathias? Let me have a look!" Aurelia opened the bag enthusiastically.

Seraphina stood up right away and said in a trembling voice, "Don't!"

Everyone turned to look at her questioningly, and Seraphina realized that she had lost her composure. She quickly said, "I heard that one shouldn't open such bags or the loving couple would have a falling out."

She stared at the scented bag intensely. That picture of her could not be exposed to the public…

"That's just superstition!" Aurelia pouted. "My brother and Cordelia are a match made in heaven, and they're engaged. Even the gods can't break them apart."

Seraphina looked pleadingly at Mathias, but he looked indifferent, as if this had nothing to do with him. Seraphina could only close her eyes in despair as the scented bag was opened.