Chapter 2

Sabine clutched the marriage blessing, mortified, crying as pitifully as she could.

Tristan had obtained that blessing back when he was asking for my hand. He'd climbed all the way to the shrine, kneeling and bowing at every step, to pray for it.

Back then, his eyes full of devotion, he'd placed it in my hand and promised to spend the rest of his life with me.

These past few years, he'd let Sabine take everything from me.

The jewelry in my room, the food I loved... Whatever caught her eye, Tristan would force me to hand over.

The marriage blessing was the only exception. No matter how much Sabine cried and fussed, he'd never once pressured me to give it up.

I never imagined I'd one day give it to her myself.

I looked up and met Tristan's dark gaze.

"Elowen, I know you're hurting. If you're upset, hit me, yell at me, whatever you want. Why play these games?"

Ignoring Sabine's sobs, he snatched the blessing back and held it out to me.

"I earned this for you, so it belongs to you and no one else. Keep it safe, and don't ever give it away again!"

I didn't take it. I just stepped back and looked at him, expressionless.

"You're overthinking this, my lord. I wouldn't dare blame you, and I'm not playing any games.

"Today is your wedding day with Lady Sabine. I only wish you both a happy marriage and a son very soon!"

Tristan stared at me in disbelief, anger rising in his eyes.

"Fine. Just fine! I had no idea you'd become so generous!

"Since you're being so reasonable, I'd hate to refuse your kindness!

"Someone pack up all my things. From today on, I'm moving into Moonfall Court!"

Moonfall Court was where Sabine lived.

In the past, if he so much as set foot there, I'd chase after him and make a tearful scene.

Now I only bowed respectfully.

"As you wish, my lord."

My compliance only made him angrier. He kicked me hard, knocking me to the floor.

"Elowen, stop pretending to be the perfect wife!

"You think if you act like this, I'll feel guilty enough to clear your father's and brothers' names?"

I sprawled on the floor, my mouth full of blood.

But I couldn't help laughing.

Clear their names?

Every member of House Harcourt was nothing but rotting flesh now.

What would clearing their names even mean?

I swallowed the pain, struggled up, and knelt in front of him.

"Please calm down, my lord. I meant nothing of the sort.

"You and Lady Sabine love each other, and your wedding night is precious. I simply didn't want to intrude."

Tristan clenched his jaw and let out a cold laugh.

"Good. Well said!

"Since you're so generous, you can wait on us yourself tonight!"

Right in front of me, he swept Sabine into his arms, kicked me aside, and carried her straight into the bedroom.

Curled up against his chest, Sabine looked at me with pure triumph.

As they passed, she even mouthed a taunt at me: "Bitch, what makes you think you can compete with me?"

In the past, I'd have lunged at her and torn her mouth apart.

Now I only lowered my eyes and smiled bleakly.

She had no idea. A dying woman had no energy left to fight her for his affection.

I staggered after them.

He'd kicked me so hard that my ribs had broken. Every movement sent searing pain through me.

The moment I opened my mouth, I threw up a mouthful of dark blood.

Tristan didn't care at all.

Stone-faced, he made me undress him and Sabine.

I knelt numbly beside the bed and watched them do whatever they pleased right in front of me.

The bed shook all night long, and I knelt all night long.

Maybe my injuries were too severe. Before dawn, I coughed up a mouthful of blood and passed out.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my own room.

Tristan stood tall beside my bed. When he looked down at me, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes.

"Elowen, I was furious yesterday. That's the only reason I raised a hand to you.

"I admit I went too far. But it's your fault too. You know how hard I hit, so why didn't you stay out of reach?"

A sneer tugged at my lips. I forced myself to sit up and apologize.

But Tristan leaned down and pressed on my shoulders.

"Don't move, Elowen. The physician says you're three months pregnant. The pregnancy isn't stable, so you need rest!"

That one sentence left me stunned.

Once, I'd longed more than anything for a child of my own.

But in our second year of marriage, Tristan and I were attacked by bandits on our way up the mountain to pray for blessings.

To save him, I took an arrow straight through my lower abdomen.

The physician said I'd probably never be able to conceive.

I never imagined that the child I couldn't have, no matter how many gods I knelt before, would quietly come to me just when I'd set my heart on dying.