Chapter 3

Before Arissa could process what was happening, a female voice sounded behind her. "Arissa's compound is so shabby."

Arissa turned around and saw Nicola standing in the sunlight. She held her still‑flat stomach and wore an exquisite, luxurious dress.

"Oh dear, look at my forgetfulness." Nicola covered her lips and pretended to be surprised. "I completely forgot. His Highness sent me all the good things from the Crown Prince's residence. Arissa has nothing to decorate, so it naturally looks a bit shabby."

Arissa's fingertips trembled slightly as she suppressed the throbbing pain in her heart. She looked up at Nicola. "Why are you here?"

Nicola stroked her still‑flat stomach and smiled gently. "Recently, I have had severe morning sickness and keep craving something sour. I heard that your peach tarts are appetizing, so I came to ask for a piece."

Arissa's fingertips trembled even more. Before she could speak, Helen stepped in front of her with fury in her eyes. "Miss Mullery, my lady is the future Crown Princess. You are a concubine. How dare you ask the Crown Princess to cook for you? You are disregarding the rules."

Slap.

A slap landed across Helen's face before she could react.

Nicola withdrew her hand. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "Who gave a lowly maid like you the right to interrupt when your master is speaking? Someone, give her 100 slaps."

Arissa's gaze turned icy. She stepped in front of Helen. "I dare you."

Nicola's red lips curled slightly. "Let us see if I dare."

She muttered, "Nightowl."

A dark figure appeared, and Arissa's pupils contracted sharply.

Nightowl was Louis' most skilled personal bodyguard for over a decade. He protected Louis without ever leaving his side. Louis actually gave him to Nicola?

Nightowl expressionlessly restrained Arissa's arms. Two older maids stepped forward to hold Helen down and slapped her nonstop.

Blood seeped from the corner of Helen's mouth, yet she still glared stubbornly at Nicola.

Arissa's voice trembled. "Stop. I will make them for you. Just let Helen go."

Nicola waved her hand in satisfaction, signaling them to stop. Helen's face was covered in blood as she rushed to Arissa's feet. "Miss, you must not. You are of noble birth. How could you..."

Arissa leaned down to wipe away the blood and whispered, "It is alright."

In the small kitchen, Arissa kneaded dough, prepared fillings, and baked the peach tarts despite her still‑healing chest wound.

When the first batch of peach tarts came out of the oven, Nicola sat in the pavilion and admired the snow.

"Too sweet." She took one bite and threw it on the ground.

The second batch made Nicola frown. "It is so sour it makes my teeth ache."

The third batch made her overturn the plate. "Are you deliberately trying to make my morning sickness worse?"

Arissa's hands were red from the heat, yet she calmly asked, "What flavor do you want?"

"Why endure this, Arissa?" Nicola leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "I wanted to see how much Lady Jerryton, who did not even flinch when she shielded Louis from a sword, could endure."

Arissa's nails dug into her palms. "Since you do not want to eat anymore, I will leave."

She turned to leave, and a loud plop sounded behind her.

Arissa turned sharply.

Nicola had jumped into the icy lake.

"Help. Your Highness, save me..." Nicola thrashed in the water and cried out in anguish.

Almost at the same moment, a figure in black rushed over and leaped into the icy lake.

Louis carried Nicola ashore. She was soaking wet and shivering. She nestled in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. "Your Highness, do not blame Arissa. She... she did not mean it..."

Louis looked up. His gaze pierced Arissa like a dagger. "Do you not know she is pregnant?"

Arissa froze. Her fingertips felt icy.

"Arissa, I told you. I kept her at the Crown Prince's residence only for revenge. Why bother arguing with her?"

His voice was low, yet every word was scathing.

Arissa suddenly laughed. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Revenge? You are getting revenge to the point of... even having a child?"

"Cold... Louis, I am so cold..." Nicola snuggled weakly into his arms. His eyes filled with heartache.

Louis looked up again and glared at Arissa. "With such a temper, how can you be the Crown Princess? The rules of the Crown Prince's residence cannot be broken. Whoever causes trouble will be punished."

He shoved Arissa into the icy lake.

Plop.

The icy water submerged her head. The biting cold felt like a thousand needles piercing her bones.

Arissa struggled to the surface. Louis' cold order echoed across the lake. "Stay in the water for a full hour before you come up."

In the dead of winter, the frozen lake was piercingly icy. Arissa's limbs went numb, yet images of her exile flashed through her mind.

Snowflakes fell heavily as she carried the feverish, unconscious Louis across a frozen river. The ice cracked, and she fell into the icy pool, yet she held onto him tightly until they were rescued.

He had held her hand and sobbed, "Arissa, I will never betray you."

It turned out that his promise meant pushing her into the icy lake for another woman.