Chapter 3

Mother had me locked inside the room so she could control Father.

Sure enough, before dawn the next day, Father was taken away to serve Adrian.

When he returned to the courtyard that night, he was soaked from head to toe. His wounds had split open. Blood seeped through his shirt, and even his face was marked with cuts.

Knowing Adrian had targeted Father, I rushed toward the door like a madman, only to be pinned to the ground by the guards.

Father, pale as paper, touched my face and smiled.

"Eli, wait a little longer. Just one more day."

But on the third night, I never saw Father come back.

Instead, the guards took me to the pavilion. At a glance, I saw Father being held in place.

Adrian stood beside Mother with a smug curl on his lips, directing guards to dig beneath the old peach-tree stump where my aunt's remains were buried.

"The diviner said the thing beneath this ground is the reason my body grows weaker by the day. Dig carefully. Don't miss a single inch."

Father's heart shook. He struggled with all his strength against the hands restraining him.

"Seraphina! Beneath that ground is my younger sister. She took an assassin's arrow through the heart to save you. Stop this!"

Mother answered without concern.

"She is only a dead person, Gideon. Eli and I are your family now. Why cling to old grief? You should move on."

Father jerked his head up and stared at Mother as if he could not believe it.

When Mother first learned that my aunt had died saving her, she had knelt on the ground crying and begged my aunt to open her eyes. She had buried my aunt beneath the peach tree with her own hands, full of guilt.

How could that same Mother say something so heartless now?

Father could not bear it any longer. He rushed forward, seized the urn they had dug up, and held it tightly in his arms.

I saw Adrian smile with contempt. As Father drew near, Adrian staggered backward and fell against a stone. Blood instantly ran down his forehead.

"Ah!"

Adrian's face went white. He looked at Father with wounded restraint.

"Thank heavens I dodged quickly, or I might have died here today.

"Why does the prince consort keep trying to harm me? Is it only because I ordered this urn dug out? The diviner said the evil spirit inside haunts me day after day and wants to drag me to hell. I only want to live."

Mother hurriedly ordered the servants to carry Adrian back inside and summon the physician.

When she turned back to Father, only disgust and coldness remained in her eyes.

"Gideon Frost, you truly have become vicious. Fine. Since you protect this evil spirit's remains so dearly, then you will personally burn them to ashes to cleanse the bad luck from Adrian's body."

Father trembled all over and stared at Mother in disbelief.

"Seraphina, have you forgotten why you are alive today? My sister traded her life for yours. Have you forgotten all of it?

"How dare you treat her like this? How dare you!"

The courtyard fell silent. Only Adrian's groans drifted faintly from the rooms beyond.

Mother drew a breath. Her brows tightened with impatience.

"Must you cling to something from so many years ago?

"She is already dead. How can a dead ghost compare to Adrian's living life? Gideon Frost, today I will teach you which matters more: the living or the dead."

Mother took me from the guard with a cold face. Her hand closed around my throat without hesitation. Her eyes threatened Father openly.

"Either you burn those ashes yourself today, or you will never see Eli again."

I clawed at Mother's hand and struggled with all I had.

"Father, don't..."

As my face slowly turned purple, Father held Mother's gaze and smiled in grief. At last he nodded. His voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

"Fine. I will burn them. Let Eli go."

Father staggered to his feet and walked toward the fire pit. His hand shook violently as he placed the urn into the flames.

I kicked and fought wildly, but Mother covered my mouth until I nearly fainted.

When she saw Father obey, Mother finally nodded in satisfaction and turned back inside to fuss over Adrian.

Father knelt before the ashes through the entire night, grief carved across his face. By dawn, his eyes were red from weeping.