Chapter 4

Silence fell across the royal garden.

Every eye landed on me.

Without waiting for her permission, I slowly straightened up and met her gaze directly.

"Your Majesty, you're absolutely right. But I've heard that lucky people don't stay where luck doesn't live. You spent years in the palace without conceiving, and now that you've finally become 'pregnant,' perhaps you should watch your tongue. Otherwise…"

I paused deliberately.

Bellareyna's face went a little pale.

"Otherwise what?"

I gave a faint smile.

"Otherwise your good fortune might just slip away."

"How dare you!" Bellareyna slapped her hand on the table and stood up.

At almost the exact same moment, Darius strode quickly into the garden.

He saw me standing there. He saw Bellareyna trembling with rage.

Without a second's hesitation, he snapped, "Celeste! Apologize to the queen!"

I watched him go straight to Bellareyna, steadying her supposedly fragile body.

I watched the undisguised worry in his eyes as he looked at her.

The floating comments exploded across my vision.

[Here we go! In front of the real heroine, the side character doesn't stand a chance.]

[Can't wait for the childbirth death scene!]

Suddenly, I felt exhausted beyond words.

I lowered myself into a curtsy.

"I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Leaning weakly against Darius's chest, Bellareyna burst into tears right on cue.

"Darius, Celeste… she cursed my baby…"

Darius tightened his arms around her. When he looked at me again, his eyes were full of disappointment.

"Celeste, when did you become so cruel?"

The corner of my mouth twitched faintly.

Three days later, chaos broke out at court.

The royal councilors jointly submitted complaints accusing the General of the Northern Defense of failing to control his household, allowing his wife to insult the queen and threaten the royal heir.

When Darius came home, his face was dark with rage.

For the first time, he lost his temper with me.

"Kneel."

I stayed standing.

His eyes turned red.

"Celeste, go stay at the palace for a few days. Personally attend to the queen's pregnancy. Once the rumors die down, the whole thing will blow over."

As he spoke, he couldn't look me in the eye.

The floating comments cheered gleefully.

[The heroine is so smart! Now the side character will be trapped in the palace, and neither she nor her baby can escape.]

[The young general is cold but so handsome—all for his beloved adopted sister.]

I packed only a few simple things.

Before I got into the carriage, Darius grabbed my wrist.

"Celeste, I…"

I pulled my hand free.

"Goodbye, General."

The carriage rolled toward the royal palace—my prison.

The queen's side parlor was bitterly cold.

Every morning and evening, Bellareyna called me in to bow and kneel while she lectured me. Each session lasted half an hour. By the time I got up, my legs were numb.

Stroking her fake belly, she gave a sweet smile.

"Celeste, this is for your own good. A little quiet reflection might keep you from… doing something stupid later."

I lowered my eyes obediently. "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

At night, I slept on a hard wooden couch, listening to the church bells toll beyond the palace walls.

The babies in my womb kicked hard, as if complaining about the miserable conditions.

I gently rubbed my stomach.

"Just hold on a little longer. It'll be over soon."

On the fifteenth night of February, under a full moon, Darius came.

He stood beside my bed, watching my sleeping face in the moonlight.

I kept my eyes closed, feeling his fingertips brush lightly against my cheek.

So gentle.

So tender.

Then I heard his voice crack.

"I'm sorry, Celeste… But she can't live without a child. You still have our children. She has nothing…"

A tear fell onto my face, burning hot. He stood there motionless for a long time before finally turning to leave.

The moment the palace doors closed behind him, I opened my eyes.

The tears he left on my skin had already gone cold.

I pushed myself up when a sharp cramp suddenly twisted through my stomach.

The labor was starting early.

Gritting my teeth, I reached under my pillow and pulled out a tiny wooden whistle.

Marcus had given it to me.

It could summon a messenger raven.