Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes, my belly was completely flat.

In the end, I lost my fifth child too.

Susan was on her knees by my bed, her eyes red with tears. She sprang up when she saw me wake up. "My lady… The healer said you can't give birth anymore…"

I was left stunned for a long time. The birds outside chirped noisily.

Eventually, I pursed my broken lips. "So be it. I didn't want to keep that baby, anyway."

Susan, however, thought I wasn't thinking straight and kept reasoning, "Please, my lady. Don't get so petty over this. Just make peace with the duke. Without children, you can only survive on your husband's approval. If you keep upsetting him, your life will only get harder."

I could only smile wryly. What would I need approval for if there was no love?

It took me two days to heal enough and get out of bed.

Naturally, Jules never showed up. He only sent Alfred to bring me medicine.

I overheard the handmaidens saying out loud that he was either going on strolls with Nora at the gardens or taking her out to hunt game; places he promised to take me before, and only after I spent three sleepless nights making paper cranes for his good fortune.

As it turns out, those irreplaceable promises could change.

I stared at the row of apple trees in the gardens, spacing out for a long time.

Then, I rolled up my sleeves, grabbed my axe, and went over to chop everything down to the roots.

Jules and I had planted every tree and grew them every step of the way, from watering and sowing fertilizer.

Holding my hand, he once swore under these trees that we would grow old together; that he would never betray me and never take more than one wife.

Even now, those words were ringing in my ears. And yet, they turned out to be brief as seasonal flowers.

When Jules brought Nora to the garden and saw the mess, he frowned at me. "What's gotten into you this time? And weren't you demanding a divorce? Are you trying to win my sympathy again?"

Nora promptly threw herself in Jules arms, her cheeks pale, her face contorting with glee. Her voice was as sweet as honey. "My lord, what divorce? I'm your duchess, aren't I? That's the harlot who keeps clinging to you."

Hearing that, Jules put an arm around her shoulder, rocking her gently and affectionately. At the same time, he was glaring at me; it was a wordless threat for me to cooperate.

"My mouth slipped. Don't take it to heart, Nora."

His tone turned cold.

"Since you have the strength to hurt the Duchess's feelings, you won't mind being punished either!"

My nails dug into my palms. I looked up at the jinx mark between his eyes; it was even clearer now.

Before I could speak, Jules' guards made me kneel on a board of nails. It pierced my knees instantly.

Pursing her lips, Nora cried shrilly, "No! That's not enough! Slap her for her insolence!"

Smack!

Her chief lady-in-waiting promptly strode up and slapped me across the face so violently my healed lip cracked open again. Blood trickled down my chin.

Combined with the blood already pouring out of my knees, it streamed straight to Jules' feet.

His eyes lit up and he reached out before he knew it, but he soon withdrew his hand and hid it behind his back before leaving with Nora.

I was left on the floor, limp.

Alfred came up to me. "Just bear with it, my lady. The duke has found a hermit healer who dwelled deep in the mountains to cure Lady Nora."

That again?

I had been hearing that from him for years, countless times, whether it was a shaman from the west or a miracle worker from the east.

Repeatedly, endlessly.

-

As I packed, I only took my belongings that I brought here. I handed everything Jules gave to Susan.

By the time the runner from Judau returned with the approved divorce papers, Jules was holding court. I waited outside and watched as the peasants talked about me loudly as I received the papers.

"There are two sets of papers," I said. "Please deliver Prince Jules' to him personally."

The runner promptly left after delivering the papers to me.

Just holding both sets of papers gave me relief. I picked up my belongings and left without telling anyone.

As I strolled down the streets and turned to look at the front gates of the manor one last time, I felt no reluctance to leave.

My kinsmen were ready to receive me outside the city and take me home, but I bumped into Jules returning to his manor just as I passed the main street.

For once, he stopped the carriage to look at me.

"You're still wandering everywhere? Aren't you afraid the peasants would get you again? Why are you so stubborn? Is it that hard to yield to me?"

Seeing my puffy eyes, he gently lifted my chin, his expression easing.

"Your pretty eyes will get ugly if you keep crying. In the end, Nora is a fake duchess who would never threaten your position. Why lie about it when you want me? Quit being so upset. I've already called for a healer to treat her delusion. I'll make it up to you when she's better, okay?"

He spoke so lovingly and somberly, as if the torment I was subjected to was completely insignificant.

I looked up at him in silence. Thinking that I had caved in, Jules' mood improved even more.

Pinching my cheek, he said, "I know you're upset about losing the baby. I'll hold a banquet to announce who you are to some officials, and I'm sure the peasants won't harass you anymore."

He left without waiting for my response, certain I wouldn't reject such a treat.

I smiled wryly and watched as his carriage disappeared into the distance while murmuring, "You haven't even realized that the shadow of death is already written all over your face."

His comeuppance was at hand, but that was none of my business.