第5章

Elena's POV

Sophia came from a minor branch of the Ashford family. After her father's early death, her household had never been well off.

Since she was close to my age, I had often invited her to stay with us over the years.

Clothes, jewelry, gowns for banquets. If she wanted something, I rarely thought twice about it.

Back then, I only felt sorry for her.

It wasn't until she stood beside Cassian that I learned some people only want more the more they are given.

A few days after the Elder Council approved the change in engagement, my father received an invitation from the Vale family.

They were holding an engagement banquet for Cassian and Sophia.

My father set the invitation on the table after reading it.

"You don't have to go. No one will say anything."

I glanced at the invitation.

A black wax seal stamped with the Vale family crest.

I had received invitations like this many times before.

Back then, I would start picking out my gown days in advance.

I would think about what color Cassian preferred.

I would ask my maid, Nora Bennett, which necklace would look best when I stood next to him.

Now, looking at that crest again, I felt almost nothing.

"It's all right. I'm not going to hide from them."

I picked up the invitation.

"The engagement is over.

"Their banquet has nothing to do with me."

I said it calmly.

He didn't try to talk me out of it again.

On the night of the engagement banquet, I chose a plain navy gown.

When Nora was arranging my hair, she asked cautiously,

"My lady, would you like to wear the ruby necklace Lord Cassian gave you?"

My hands paused.

"No.

"Something else."

She immediately looked down and took a string of pearls from the jewelry box, a keepsake my mother had left behind.

I glanced at the red jewelry case beside the mirror.

Cassian had given me many things over the months.

Sometimes a necklace.

Sometimes a brooch.

A few times, small gifts he happened to bring back from trips.

I used to remember exactly when I received each one.

I even remembered what he said at the time.

Those small scraps of sweetness had sustained me for years.

Now the memories felt distant and faded.

The engagement banquet was held at Cassian's estate.

When the carriage stopped, the hall was already filling with guests.

I followed my father inside.

People greeted me along the way.

There was a hint of scrutiny in the way they looked at me.

After all, just days ago, I had been the bride in this engagement.

Now the one standing at the center of the hall was Sophia.

I didn't stop to explain anything.

I curtsied when expected.

I made small talk when expected.

When someone asked about the North, I gave brief, simple answers.

When I looked up, I happened to see Cassian.

He stood not far away.

Sophia was right beside him.

She wore a pale gown, and around her neck was a diamond necklace I recognized.

It had been a gift from my mother to me.

Sophia once said she liked it, so I gave it to her.

Now she wore that necklace beside Cassian, smiling brightly.

I looked away after a single glance.

My father went to discuss something with a few of the Elders.

I took a glass of fruit wine and sat by the window.

Before long, someone stopped beside me.

"Elena."

I looked up.

Cassian stood before me.

He was dressed in formal black that day.

A gold badge bearing the Vale crest was pinned to his chest.

I set down the glass.

"Lord Cassian."

His expression faltered noticeably.

"You're calling me that now?"

I looked at him.

"Our engagement is over.

"It seems more appropriate."

Cassian was quiet for a moment.

"Do you really have to be this distant?"

His reaction surprised me. I couldn't imagine what he thought there was to regret.

"Isn't that how it should be?"

His brow creased slightly.

I said nothing more.

Sophia was his fiancée now.

If I continued to be as close to Cassian as before, it would only make things difficult for everyone.

I started to stand.

The unhealed wound in my shoulder suddenly twinged.

The glass in my hand wobbled.

Cassian reached out at once and steadied my arm.

"Is your shoulder still hurting?"

I pulled back almost instinctively.

His hand hung in the air.

"Much better."

I said quietly.

"Thank you."

Cassian watched me.

"Didn't the doctor tell you to watch what you eat and drink?"

"It's only fruit wine."

"Fruit wine still has alcohol."

He took a glass of water from a passing attendant and handed it to me.

The gesture was so natural.

After our engagement, he had looked after me in small ways like this a few times.

I got dizzy in carriages, so he would have the windows opened in advance.

At banquets, when I couldn't eat the food prepared for vampires, he would have the kitchen make something else.

I used to read so much into those small kindnesses.

I always believed that a man who took such gentle care of me would, one day, come to love me.

I took the water.

But a different bed flashed through my mind.

By that point, I had been too sick to even swallow water.

The wound in my abdomen flared with pain every night, inflamed and festering endlessly.

The maid stood by the bed with medicine, asking if she should send someone to bring Cassian again.

The previous two attempts had come back empty-handed.

The steward would only say he was busy.

Eventually, I stopped letting them try. I didn't want to invite more of his contempt.

The Cassian in front of me was still watching.

"Why do you look so pale?"

I snapped back.

"I'm fine."

"If your shoulder is bothering you, go home early."

"All right."

I put down the water glass, polite but distant.

"I will."

He seemed about to say something else.

That was when Sophia came over.

She looped her arm through Cassian's, perfectly at ease.

"Elena."