Chapter 6

When Seraphina opened her eyes again, she saw that the picture in Aurelia's hand was of Cordelia.

"Do you bring Cordelia's picture with you wherever you go, Mathias?" Aurelia was surprised. "You must really love her a lot!"

Mathias smiled. "Of course. It's a cure for me missing Cordelia when I don't see her."

His words only made everyone even more envious of the love between Mathias and Cordelia.

However, a young lady asked, "This embroidery work doesn't seem to be from the hand of Lady Cordelia."

Mathias replied, "I didn't want Cordelia to labor at things like this, and I was worried about her hand getting hurt from this, so I hired a seamstress to make it."

Seraphina's heart fell to her stomach. Mathias had accepted her scented bag because he had treated her as a seamstress, not because he had feelings for her. That was why he got rid of her picture and swapped it for Cordelia's.

Aurelia smiled, but then turned to look at Seraphina reproachfully. "Mathias and Cordelia are in love and were made for each other. They can't be broken up so easily. Do you believe in the strength of their love now, Ms. Seraphina?"

Seraphina lowered her eyes and replied, "Yes, I do. His Highness and Lady Cordelia's love for each other is strong, and they deserve to be with each other for the rest of their lives."

Mahias frowned and glanced at her thoughtfully, but he said nothing. He held Cordelia's hand and turned to leave with the scented bag in his hand.

When Seraphina returned home, she found a master builder she trusted to seal the secret passage. The bricks covered the entrance one by one, burying everything that had happened there in the past three years.

"It's done, Ms. Montclair," the master builder said in a low voice.

Seraphina nodded as she stared at the stone wall that had been rebuilt, thinking that Mathias would not care about such a small matter as he was busy with his upcoming wedding.

However, someone suddenly opened her room door late at night the next day when she was just about to go to bed.

Mathias was standing outside the door, dressed in black. There was anger in his eyes as he questioned her coldly, "Why did you seal the secret passage?"

Seraphina's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to calm down. "My family almost discovered the secret passage, and I know how worried Your Highness is about Cordelia finding out about us. So, I sealed it before it was discovered."

Mathias' expression softened. "You did the right thing. I'll find another mansion and figure out a way to move you there. Wait for me."

Seraphina felt bitterness in her heart when she heard his words. She could not understand why he would go through so much trouble and refuse to let her go. She could not help asking. "You're about to be married to Cordelia. Why do you refuse to let me go seek a marriage for my own?"

Mathias did not expect this question from her, and he was silent for a moment before replying, "You've lost your chastity to me, Seraphina. I will bear responsibility for that."

"Bear responsibility?" Seraphina laughed sadly. "Do you plan to do that by letting me live a life in the shadows, without the right to bear a child of my own?"

Mathias stared at her, aware that she had found out about the herbal infusion to prevent her pregnancy.

"Allowing you to stay by my side is the extent of what I can give you. You shouldn't cross the line by asking for more. My child is of the royal bloodline, and only Cordelia will have that child. Why must you be greedy when I'm offering you a life of luxury?"

His tone turned cold. "Be a good girl and stop making a fuss. I won't allow you to marry another."

Mathias' words were sharp, and Seraphina's heart was cut into bloody pieces by them. She wanted him to know that she no longer wanted anything to do with him, but the sound of hurried footsteps was suddenly heard from outside the door.

"Your Highness! Lady Cordelia fainted in her room!"

Mathias did not say another word as he ran toward her room with a worried look on his face.

A group of physicians had gathered in the Montclair House while Mathias stayed by Cordelia's bed. He was filled with worry for the woman he loved when he saw how pale she was.

"Lady Cordelia had been weak since she was a fetus in the womb. She needs the blood from the heart of her closest kin," an old physician said in a slightly quivering voice as he hesitated. "It would be best if it were a healthy woman of a similar age."

Mathias' head jerked up right away. "Bring Seraphina here right now!"

It was not long before Seraphina was dragged into the room by guards. She struggled to stand up straight. Seeing Mathias looking at Cordelia, who was passed out in bed with such worry, she could not help feeling a pang of pain.

"Take the blood from her heart," Mathias ordered coldly.

A chill ran down Seraphina's back. For years, Cordelia had used her status as the legitimate daughter of the House to humiliate Mireille and her. She could never forget Cordelia's insulting words and condescending looks, and now, she had to save Cordelia by giving her the blood from her heart.

"Your Highness," Seraphina said through clenched teeth, "I'm not willing to give my blood."

The look in Mathias' eyes turned cold. "This isn't up to you! If you're not willing. Your mother will be evicted and become homeless."

Seraphina turned pale, and she nearly fell to the ground. How could he threaten her by using her mother? Mireille was weak and sick. If she were evicted…

"All right," Seraphina finally agreed in a trembling voice. "I will give my blood, but Your Highness has to agree to one condition from me."