Chapter 3

He rolled his eyes and scoffed.

“Stop pretending to be so kind! You’re just afraid I’ll go tell the Queen about you!”

No matter what I did, he always took it in the most malicious way possible.

I felt a sharp, stabbing ache in my heart once again.

I gave him a bitter smile. “Lord Lapointe, you’ve seen right through me.”

Henry paused for a moment. Then, he pulled Margot to her feet and continued decorating their new bridal chamber.

His bustling, joyful demeanor was a far cry from the aloof and indifferent prince consort from my previous timeline.

He had once said that if two people were in love, they must personally furnish the small courtyard where they lived to make it feel warm and cozy.

That was when he tidied my bedroom every day. I foolishly believed that was what he meant by “furnishing.”

Little did I know that he used his visits to the bedroom to study the city’s defense maps, which he then sold to others.

I did not understand it till today as I watched the sight of both him and Margot furnishing their place. I tried to keep my distance, yet I could not resist drawing closer. Only then did I finally understand what he meant by “love.”

They were inseparable. Lady Lapointe looked awkward.

“Your Highness, there are fireworks in the rear courtyard. Shall I have a servant take you to see them to lift your spirits?”

Even Lady Lapointe could tell I was in a foul mood.

“No need. I’ll go see for myself.”

In broad daylight, bursts of small fireworks shot into the sky. They bloomed with a dazzling brilliance.

Yet the scene beneath the fireworks was sickening.

Henry gently wrapped his arms around Margot. The two looked up together. Their gazes were full of affection for each other.

“Margot, thank you for giving me these fireworks.”

“My prince, if you like them, I’ll make fireworks for you every day.”

As their eyes met, their affection grew.

I sighed and turned to leave.

Suddenly, a spark from a firework landed right in front of me. In an instant, the dry grass before me caught fire.

I hurriedly backed up, only to realize there was a small raised hill behind me.

In the midst of the crisis, I shouted, “Henry, call someone to put out the fire!”

Henry nodded instinctively. “Someone, quick…”

Before he could finish, Margot’s eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

He was just about to call someone to put out the fire, but instead he said, “Quick, go get a doctor!”

In the brief moment it took to exchange those few words, the fire grew fiercer. The flames were licking at the soles of my shoes. A searing pain shot through my ankle.

I stared at Henry in disbelief. Even in a life-or-death situation, he prioritized Margot over me when it came to calling for help.

With nowhere left to retreat, I had no choice but to climb onto the small, artificial hill.

“Henry, do you want the entire Duke’s household to die with you?”

Before I could finish, Margot let out a soft moan. She clung to Henry and trembled. “Henry… I feel so ill…”

Henry quickly wrapped his arms around Margot and gently patted her back. He was completely oblivious to the flames rushing straight toward me.

I closed my eyes, but the searing heat never came.

I felt a tight grip around my waist. Before I knew it, someone had wrapped their arms around me and lifted me out of the fire.

I opened my eyes and took a peek. I saw Justin soaring through the air as he lashed out with his whip to haul me to safety.

Zachariah had arrived at some point. He was accompanied by servants and maids carrying buckets of water.

Soon, the fire was extinguished.

I felt angry and bitter. I thought Henry only disliked me, but he would still know his limits.

I never imagined that in Margot’s presence, not only would I be overlooked, but even the Duke’s mansion would take a backseat.

Justin had watched the entire scene clearly from a tree.

He glared at Henry.

Soon, Duke Lapointe learned of the incident and nearly fainted from shock.

He could not bear to punish Henry, so he took it all out on Margot.

That very day, in front of me, Duke Lapointe ordered Margot to be flogged fifty times. Then, he had her thrown into the woodshed and forbade anyone from visiting her.

Henry was so heartbroken that he nearly wept himself to death.

“Zenia, I never expected you to be so petty! Margot was right about you. You were just biding your time to get revenge.”

He thought I had ordered Margot to be beaten.

I sneered coldly. “Henry, do you even know that I nearly burned to death? What if—”

“What if? You’re a princess! Even if you’re injured, there will be royal doctors to tend to you.

“Besides, didn’t Justin come to save you? You have so many people by your side. Your scheming and harassment have made it so that Margot has no one but me.

“You’re going to tell the royal doctors to follow me to my residence to treat Margot.”

The wound on my foot stung. I sneered. “In your dreams!”

Henry’s face flushed red. Then, he went pale with rage.

“Zenia, I’m warning you! The day after tomorrow is your coronation ceremony…

“You don’t think I’ll refuse the marriage in front of everyone, do you?”

I stared at him. The expected wave of stabbing pain in my chest failed to materialize this time.

The Princess of the State’s coronation was no trivial matter. The Queen had even specially vacated her own Palace to host the ceremony.

Dressed in the Princess of the State’s regalia, I listened to the court ladies’ choir as I walked step by step to the front.

Henry stood in the section reserved for officials’ families. His gaze swept over me. He rolled his eyes.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“Who do you reckon the Prince Consort will be?”

“That’s a no-brainer. The one from the Lapointe family, of course! Haven’t you seen Her Highness running over to the Lapointe residence every day lately?”

“Actually, General Scott isn’t bad either. He comes from a military family and is dashing and heroic. Then, there’s Lord Walter, the capital’s foremost scholar. He’s sure to make a perfect match for the Princess.”

Someone chuckled. “Just hope it’s not that hostage prince.”

Someone, who did not catch the joke, asked, “A prince and a princess. They’d make such a perfect match.”

“Ha! Call him a prince if you like. But really, he’s just a discarded pawn. If the princess actually marries him, her life will truly be ruined.”

The murmurs grew louder. Henry’s face grew increasingly smug.

Zachariah and Yohan exchanged a glance. Then, they looked away in unspoken understanding.

Justin stood watching from afar. No one could guess what was on his mind.

After the elaborate rituals of the Coronation, the crowning ceremony, and the presentation of the Princess of the State’s seal were completed, a court lady produced another royal decree.

Henry suddenly rose to his feet and knelt in the center of the hall. He performed a grand bow.

“The King is truly wise. However, I am foolish and unworthy to serve as the consort to the Princess of the State.”