Chapter 1

“Lily, after tonight, you are no longer the Countess.”

Chris stood in the middle of the dais with his hand around Lucy's waist.

“From tonight on, she will be the only lady of this land.”

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

I stood at the foot of the steps, still holding a goblet of the anniversary wine he loved.

I had made it myself seven years ago and had planned to share it with him tonight.

Now it seemed there was no point.

Lucy peeked out from Chris's arms.

“Then doesn't that make my sister a lowly slave again?”

Chris soothed her.

“Mmm. She won't mind.

“After all, she sold herself into slavery once. She's just going back to what she was.”

I tightened my grip on the goblet.

Seven years ago, my mother fell gravely ill.

I borrowed money from everyone I knew, but it still wasn't enough.

So I offered myself as collateral to a slave trader and was thrown into an arena to entertain the rich.

Just before the beast pounced, Chris cut my chains with one stroke.

He hauled me out of the pool of blood.

And he bought my slave contract outright.

That was when I fell deeply in love with him.

I never forgot what he said next.

“From now on, you're free.”

Now the memory made me want to laugh.

Chris looked at me, his voice softening.

“Lily, she just got back. Without this title, people will talk about her.

“You won't lose anything else that's yours.

“We won't cross any lines anyway.”

Chris came closer.

“So you don't need to compete with her for my attention.

“For now, she's the one who needs my love. But I can give you anything else you want.”

While I was still reeling, he took the coronet off my head.

He turned and set it on Lucy's head.

Lucy rose on her toes and hooked her arms around his neck.

“Chris, I'm the one you've loved all these years, aren't I?”

Chris ruffled her hair. That was answer enough.

Without the coronet I'd worn for seven years, my head felt strangely light.

Lucy seemed to remember something and gave me a sweet smile.

“Sister, if you don't mind, you can stay by my side as my lady's maid.

“I'll treat you well.

“After all, no one out there would treat a slave like you well.”

Her eyes fell on the ring finger of my left hand.

“You should take off that ring too, Sister.”

She tilted her head.

“After all, you're not the Countess anymore.”

Chris's voice was flat.

“Take it off.

“I know you like jewelry. Go pick out something else from the treasury.”

But Chris had forgotten that he'd gone down on one knee and slipped this ring onto my finger himself.

Whatever was left of my love for him died.

I slowly slid the ring off and set it down by the candlestick.

The guests around us began to whisper.

“So she's the one who stole her sister's man?”

“A slum girl who managed to snag an earl? She can't be anything but trash.”

Chris heard too, but he didn't contradict them. He just held Lucy tighter.

I took a deep breath.

“I've given back everything that was yours.

“Our marriage is over too.

“From now on, we owe each other nothing.”

At that, Chris looked at me again.

His tone was mocking.

“Lily, when did you learn to threaten me with such cheap tricks?

“Now's not the time to sulk.

“You and I have held this land for seven years. Do you know how many enemies we've made?

“If you leave my territory, they'll tear you to pieces, won't they?”

He paused, then smirked.

“Besides, everyone knows you love me more than life itself.

“You'd even die for me.”

The old wound in my chest suddenly throbbed.

Yeah.

I had taken an invader's arrow for him.

The arrow pierced straight through my abdomen, soaking the grass beneath me with blood.

I almost died there.

That was when he knelt beside me, held my hand, and swore he'd stand by me forever.

But now the innocent princess he'd fallen for seven years ago was back.

So he threw away those vows and me along with them.

Without a moment's hesitation.

I turned away without another glance at anyone.

I left the castle and went down to the shore.

I took the stone from my coat.

The runes glowed in my palm.

I pressed my lips to it.

“Arthur.

“Didn't you say you wanted to steal me away?

“I'll be waiting for you to set foot on the land of Borgirota tomorrow.”