Chapter 3

The figurine was carved in my likeness.

Julian had given me one exactly like it in my previous life.

I'd been beside myself with happiness. I kept it by my pillow every night.

Only now, cracked open, did I see that something had been hidden inside it.

Poppy carefully drew out the corner of paper showing through, then cried out.

"My lady...

"The portrait inside isn't you.

"It's Celeste."

Beneath the little painting, a line in his hand:

To my beloved Celeste.

The irony was almost elegant.

I gripped the broken wood so hard a splinter drove into my palm.

Blood ran down my hand.

I barely felt it.

And what had I still been hoping for?

His heart had never had room for me.

And yet for three years he'd treated me like something precious.

The noblewomen of the capital had envied me openly.

"Lady Reed is so fortunate."

"Lord Reed climbs higher at court every year. Every house in the city would like to slip a girl into his household, and he won't look at any of them."

"It's true. My servant went to Bellrose Bakery for the honey cakes before dawn and found Lord Reed already standing in line."

"The baker said he comes every morning, just so his wife gets them while they're still warm."

Back then I lived in a haze of happiness, as though I were walking on air.

But the higher someone lifts you, the worse the fall. I understood that now.

On the wedding day, drums thundered through House Sterling.

I wore a claret velvet houppelande.

Poppy was helping me toward the gate when a pair of black boots blocked my path.

"You're certainly eager, Elara."

I knew that mocking voice too well.

I lifted the veil.

"Julian.

"What are you doing here?"

He was wearing a cotehardie himself, and it suited him well.

The sneer at the corner of his mouth ruined it.

"The groom's procession hasn't even come through the gate and you're already on your way out?"

I stared at him coldly.

"I'm not marrying you today."

He laughed as though he'd never heard anything so absurd.

"Enough, Elara.

"You've schemed for months to get here.

"What's the point of performing now?"

I ignored him and signaled Poppy to clear the way.

Julian stepped sideways and blocked me again.

"Stop before you make a fool of yourself."

Before I could answer, Father's booming laugh came from behind us.

"My excellent son-in-law.

"You're here."

My heart sank.

I'd planned to leave the estate and change routes on the road. I'd accounted for everything except Julian arriving this early.

Julian bowed low to Father.

"Chancellor.

"Lady Elara has just told me that I'm not the man she's marrying today."

Father's face darkened instantly, and the look he turned on me was hard.

"Nonsense."

Then the warm smile returned for Julian.

"Since the groom is here, go along with him."

He pressed my hand into Julian's and pushed me toward the gate, unwilling to wait another moment.

We were almost across the threshold, and the person I was waiting for still hadn't come.

I had one move left.

I stopped where I stood and raised my voice.

"Julian.

"You are already betrothed.

"How can you marry me today?"

He hesitated.

Guilt flickered through his eyes.

"Why bring that up?

"You know perfectly well that Celeste is gone."

"And if I told you she's alive?"

The courtyard erupted.

"The Chancellor's son-in-law was already betrothed?"

"That's using power to force a match."

Father's expression turned ugly.

"Elara.

"You will not stand there and invent lies."

I ignored him and looked at Poppy.

Before long, a woman was brought forward under guard.

The moment Julian saw her face, there was no relief in it at all.

He went white.

"Celeste?

"You didn't die?"