Chapter 4

Gareth read on.

"The bitter coldness of the Everfrost Plains made my wounds ache in agony. These were the result of the Heartlock Curse Jillian had used on me. They ensured that I was tormented with a pain worse than death.

"At the time, she used this to blackmail me and forced me to sell my body at a nightclub. If I dared to resist, she would chant the spell to inflict me with unbearable pain.

"I couldn't remember how many times I'd been violated. Some of them were even decades older than me. All of them disgusted me.

"Not a day went by that I didn't suffer endless humiliation. It got so bad that I couldn't stop bleeding from between my legs.

"One night, when I was being assaulted by a slovenly Pigkin, I saw Gareth, who'd come to the nightclub for a drink. I could still remember the terrifying look in his eyes.

"After he'd turned the nightclub into a bloodbath, I huddled in his arms, completely naked. My throat was completely raw. I couldn't say a word. I desperately wished I could tell him what happened to me. I wanted him to take pity on me.

"When I met his bloodshot eyes, I was shocked to find tears in his eyes. His jaw was clenched as he declared he hated me."

There was a lot more to this painful memory I'd documented in my letter.

"Soon, everyone found out I'd worked as a prostitute at the nightclub. The rumors and insults branding me a promiscuous slut spread like wildfire, nearly drowning me. For the sake of his dignity, Gareth had me sent to the countryside to make up for my wrongdoing through manual labor.

"I'd spent three months in those harsh conditions when he suddenly appeared before me. With mixed emotions in his eyes, he took me in his arms and brought me into the hut, where we shared a tender night together.

"Though my body was sore and tired, my heart was filled with immeasurable joy. If this had been a dream, I sorely wished I would never wake up from it.

"Before dawn the next day, he reluctantly departed. But before leaving, he told me he would give me one last chance. If I betrayed him yet again, he would never forgive me.

"I wobbled as I ran to the village entrance, but he was already gone by the time I got there. He'd gone off to wage a war against the Serpent clan. I was going to wait for him. I was going to tell him in person just how much I loved him."

Gareth ripped the letter into shreds and stomped on them with his feet.

"That's… impossible!"

Gareth finally looked a little panicked.

However, Jillian began weeping softly. "Even now, Willow is trying to frame me. Why would I ever do such things?"

The others swiftly piped up in agreement.

"That's right. Everyone knows what kind of person Queen Jillian is. Willow's nothing but a wretched bitch who secretly colluded with the Serpent clan! How dare she smear the name of our queen?"

"She handed over all our most beautiful women to the Serpent King! She deserves death for that alone."

"Maybe this bastard spawn is the result of her fooling around with the Serpent King."

Ignoring their barbed comments and insults, Ivory carefully pieced together the ripped pieces of the letter and read the words out loud.

"The day the enemy broke through the city gates, I left the village. I wanted to protect the women and the children left in the city. I couldn't wait till he got back. Instead, I hoped he would see the letters I wrote to him. Throughout all lifetimes, I would never abandon him. I love—"

Gareth kicked Ivory before she could finish reading.

"The nerve of that slut to talk about loving me when she got in bed with the Serpent King!"

Brandishing his sword, he marched up to Ivory and pointed it at her chest as he demanded, "Speak! Tell me where that slut is, or else, you're going to die here today!"

Ivory flashed a weak smile at him. "You don't need to do it yourself, Father."

Gareth was stunned to hear her call her that.

At the very next second, Ivory stepped forward. Gareth couldn't withdraw his sword in time. Just like that, the sword went right through her heart. The crystal necklace she held began gleaming with a golden light.

"This is a spell that requires the sacrifice of the flesh and blood from a family member," she said. "It will now reveal my mother's memories before her death."

When Gareth saw the scenes from my life that led up to my death, his heart lurched, and his sword fell to the floor with a loud clatter.