The Last Snowfall

Serena Claridge was demure, but she was also unyielding and resolute in her decision.

"But what about your five children? You gave birth to them. W... Won't you miss them?"

Her children...

Serena felt her heart tighten in her chest. It was as though an invisible hand had clenched it tightly, and the pain was so intense that she could hardly breathe. She had carried each child for 9 months and nearly died giving birth to every one of them.

She had hidden away a small baby vest from her first child and a few strands of hair from her second. As for the third... she could never bear to imagine what the child looked like because she was afraid it would make her want to stay.

None of her children were by her side, as all of them had been given to Gwendolyn Cresswell, and they called her "Mother."

Serena might have been their birth mother, but she was merely a blurred and insignificant figure in their lives.

"The children have been taken away by His Highness, and they are being cared for by a loving mother. They are safe and cherished by the Royal Family. I no longer have any worries here."

Queen Catherine saw how determined Serena was, and she knew there was no point trying to persuade her to stay.

"All right. You have completed your mission, and I will let you go. However, your health is poor right now. You should stay for a few more days to recover from this birth. Then I will authorize a pass for you to leave. At that point, you will no longer be the Crown Prince's Lady Consort, Lady Serena. You shall have your freedom."

Freedom.

The word was like sunlight breaking through the heavy gloom in Serena's heart. It also felt like sweet spring water flowing across dry, cracked earth.

Serena was overwhelmed with joy and relief, washing away 5 years of numb endurance. She nearly stumbled as she curtseyed to Queen Catherine in gratitude, choking back a sob.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

It was already dark when Serena walked out of the Queen's chambers. The path stretched before her, long and quiet, and she walked slowly along the wall as memories from many years ago filled her mind.

Back then, everyone in the capital knew that Crown Prince Cedric Valerius and Gwendolyn Cresswell, the eldest daughter of House Cresswell, were childhood sweethearts and a couple envied by countless people.

On the day of their wedding, Cedric declared before the court and the kingdom that Gwendolyn would be the only woman in his life.

Unfortunately, Gwendolyn failed to conceive after 3 years of marriage.

Queen Catherine grew anxious about Cedric not having an heir, as it could compromise his position as Crown Prince. She threatened him with Gwendolyn's life and forced him to take a consort.

Cedric resisted and fought back, but eventually he compromised.

His court officials presented him with numerous portraits of potential consorts. In the end, he chose the least remarkable woman with the most ordinary background.

Serena Claridge.

The daughter of the Vice Chamberlain of Works.

When Queen Catherine summoned Serena to the Palace, Serena knelt before the queen and pleaded, "I don't want to marry the Crown Prince."

Serena had a man she loved.

General Julian Sinclair.

His family guarded the Northern borders. The two of them had grown up together and exchanged promise tokens. All they were waiting for was Serena's father's official approval of their union.

Queen Catherine merely sipped her tea calmly.

"I heard that General Sinclair will soon be leaving for the Northern borders to train with the army. One must be careful in a dangerous place like that. If something were to happen..."

Serena looked up sharply.

"If you marry the Crown Prince and give him 5 children, guaranteeing him heirs..." Queen Catherine set down her teacup. "I'll let you leave. You can be with whoever you want then, and I promise I won't stop you."

Serena bit her lip, and her fingernails dug into her palms.

"If you don't marry the Crown Prince," Queen Catherine continued, "I'll arrange for something to happen during General Sinclair's journey back north and ensure that he dies there. Don't blame me for going to extremes, Lady Serena. Cedric is deeply in love with the Crown Princess, and it wasn't easy convincing him to choose a consort. You must marry him for the sake of providing heirs to the Royal Family."

A chill swept through Serena as she knelt on the floor.

She immediately understood that this was not a negotiation.

It was an order.

She had to exchange this marriage and several years of her life for the safety of the man she loved.

She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, only numb obedience remained.

"Your wish is my command, Your Majesty."

In the end, Serena married Cedric.

To complete her mission and leave the Palace as soon as possible, she used every method she could think of to seduce Cedric into sharing her bed.

Rumors eventually spread throughout the Palace that Lady Consort Serena was a seductress hopelessly in love with the Crown Prince, and that she would do anything to have him, even if it meant giving up her dignity as a noble lady and degrading herself like a prostitute.

Serena endured all the horrible rumors because she had no one with whom she could share her misery.

Fortunately, she became pregnant easily. Whether it was because Cedric was virile or because Serena was naturally fertile, she soon conceived her first child, and Cedric was there when she went into labor.

Her first child was a healthy baby boy. Before she could hold him in her arms, Cedric entered the room and said to the exhausted Serena, "Gwendolyn has been saddened by her inability to have children, and she has always wanted a child of her own. This child will be placed under her name."

Serena remained in bed, her body covered in bloodstains, as she looked at Cedric. She watched as the palace maid behind him stepped forward to take the baby away. Too weak to resist, Serena could not say a single word in protest.

Her second child was another boy, and Cedric offered a different reason.

"Gwendolyn wants another child to accompany our eldest. This child should be placed under her name as well."

The same thing happened with the third and fourth children. The reasons changed, but the result remained the same.

Whenever one of her children was born, the baby was taken away before the crying had even stopped and brought to Gwendolyn's chambers.

The fifth child was a girl, and Cedric took her away as well.

Before leaving with their daughter, he hesitated.

Then he promised, "Just wait a little longer. Our next child will belong to you."

Serena slowly looked up at him.

Cedric was handsome, with striking features, a sharp nose, and an air of nobility. His expression softened as he held their daughter in his arms, yet Serena felt absolutely nothing.

Because there would never be another child after this.

Serena had completed her mission.

Everything in this Palace, including the cold chambers, her distant husband, and the children she could never call her own, had never belonged to her.

Her general was still waiting for her at the Northern borders.

Soon, she would leave this place forever.