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بيت / The Last Snowfall / Chapter 8

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Chapter 8

مؤلف: Gaggle Gray
On the third evening, Serena was finally carried out of the Royal Dungeon and returned to her chambers. By then, her body was twisted with injuries, and she was barely recognizable. When the physician came to examine her, he prescribed several medicines and repeatedly reminded the Palace maids to be extremely careful when applying her treatments.

Godfrey stood beside her bed and looked at her with a sigh.

"Lady Consort Serena, His Highness asked me to pass along a message. He and the Crown Princess have gone to the Royal Abbey to offer prayers and won't return for several days. His Highness said he'll make it up to you generously once he's back."

He gestured with one hand.

A Palace servant immediately stepped forward carrying a tray piled high with precious jewelry, fine silks, and a thousand-year-old mandrake root.

"These were all bestowed upon you by His Highness for your recovery."

Serena slowly opened her eyes and looked at the gifts.

Again.

It was always compensation.

Always making it up to her.

Yet none of these things were what she wanted.

All she wanted was freedom.

The following day, Serena was finally able to leave her bed, although only with great difficulty. She changed into her plainest dress and, supported by her last remaining Palace maid, slowly made her way toward Queen Catherine's chambers.

Queen Catherine nearly dropped her teacup when she saw Serena's condition.

"W-What happened to you?"

Serena knelt before her.

"I've finished recuperating, Your Majesty, and I'd like you to fulfill your promise."

Queen Catherine immediately ordered someone to help her up. Looking at Serena's pale face and the exhaustion hidden deep within her eyes, a pang of sympathy stirred in her heart.

"Why not stay a while longer? You're still badly injured. Rest and recover first. Once you're fully healed, I'll let you leave."

Serena shook her head.

Her voice was soft, but unwavering.

"No. I don't want to stay here even one day longer, Your Majesty."

Queen Catherine studied her in silence for a long time. At last, she rose and disappeared into her inner chambers. When she returned, she handed Serena a token.

"If this is truly what you want, take it. No one will stop you at the Palace gates."

She hesitated before continuing.

"Do you... do you want to see your children one last time? I can arrange it."

Serena's fingers tightened around the token.

Her thoughts drifted to her five children.

She had carried each of them for nine months. She had endured childbirth five times.

Yet she had never held any of them for long.

A sharp pain pierced her heart.

It hurt even more than the wound in her shoulder.

Serena closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, only numb calm remained.

"No," she replied quietly. "If I see them... I might not be able to leave."

Queen Catherine sighed softly and said nothing more.

Serena lowered her eyes to the token in her hand.

The metal felt cold, yet it brought her a warmth she had not felt in a very long time.

"Your Majesty," she said after a moment. "I have one more request."

"What is it?"

"When the Crown Prince returns and asks where I am, please tell him that Lady Consort Serena succumbed to her injuries after the torture in the Royal Dungeon. Tell him she's been buried, and don't let him know where I've gone."

Queen Catherine froze.

"Why would you..."

"Please don't tell him I'm still alive, and don't tell him where I've gone." Serena looked up. For the first time, there was a pleading look in her eyes. "Just let him believe I'm dead. It's better for everyone."

Queen Catherine gazed at her for a long while before finally nodding.

"All right."

Serena curtsied.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

After that, she turned and left the Queen's chambers.

The walk was long, and Serena moved slowly. Every step pulled at her injuries. Pain surged through her body until cold sweat soaked her back, yet she never stopped.

The Palace gates stood just ahead.

When the guards examined her token, they immediately stepped aside and respectfully allowed her to pass.

Outside waited an old carriage arranged by Queen Catherine.

Serena paused and looked back one final time.

The Palace that had imprisoned her for five years stood beneath the setting sun. Its red walls glowed softly against the golden roof tiles, while the fading light cast long shadows across its grounds.

This place had taken her freedom.

It had taken her love.

It had taken her loyalty.

It had even taken Greta's life.

At last, Serena turned away.

Without another glance, she climbed into the carriage.

The wheels began to roll across the stone road.

The carriage traveled farther and farther away until it finally disappeared from sight.

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  • The Last Snowfall   Chapter 24

    The physician blanched."Your Majesty, you can't do this! Your health is tied to the kingdom itself. This method will damage your body. I can't allow it!""Just use my blood when I tell you to," Cedric repeated calmly. He offered no further explanation. "There's no need to discuss it anymore. Make the preparations immediately. If you fail to save him, I'll bury you with him. If you dare tell anyone about this, I'll execute your entire family along with you."The physician's face turned deathly pale, and he collapsed to the floor.Over the next seven days, Cedric claimed he needed peace and quiet to recover and refused to see anyone. Each day, the physician entered his room in fear and carried out the treatment.Every time it was done, Cedric felt as though he had one foot in the grave. His body was wracked with pain. Constant exhaustion and chills left him drifting in and out of consciousness. Even so, he clenched his teeth and endured it without making a sound.Whenever he close

  • The Last Snowfall   Chapter 23

    Not long afterward, news arrived from the Northern border that Serena and Julian had married in the rustic yet welcoming House Sinclair. On the day of their wedding, a rare snowfall blanketed the borderlands.Snowflakes swirled in the wind and settled on Serena's hair and wedding gown. Looking up at the falling snow, she was briefly transported back to the day she first met the Crown Prince. He had stood before the grand hall of the Palace, looking down at her with cold, indifferent eyes.The memory distracted her for only a moment before a small smile touched her lips. She had finally made peace with her past. Every joy and sorrow, every love and hatred, every struggle, sacrifice, life, and death seemed to drift away with the falling snow. One by one, the flakes melted into the earth and disappeared.After the new king ascended the throne, the kingdom gradually stabilized. Before long, court officials began urging Cedric to take a new queen and produce more heirs. He rejected every

  • The Last Snowfall   Chapter 22

    Serena stood frozen, staring at the soldier delivering the report. His mouth moved as he spoke, but all she heard was a dull buzzing in her ears. The only words that broke through were "fell off a cliff" and "alive or dead, unknown."Those words repeated endlessly in her mind.She slowly sat down amidst the chaos around her and remained there without moving, from daylight until late into the night.On the third evening, Julian finally returned to camp. He was exhausted, covered in blood, and riddled with injuries. They had found Cedric clinging to a dying tree halfway down the cliff face. His body was covered in blood, and he had suffered multiple fractures. His breathing had been so weak that it was nearly impossible to detect.Even then, his hand had been tightly clenched around a bloodstained emerald hairpin.Julian had immediately recognized it as Serena's.For the first time, he had not known what to feel toward Cedric. After rescuing him, Julian personally led a group into

  • The Last Snowfall   Chapter 21

    Cedric's vision was blurred from the fever, but his hearing seemed sharper than ever. From the tent beside his, he could hear muffled sounds and quiet sobs that belonged to Serena. Mixed among them were Julian's low breaths and the faint creak of a bed shifting beneath their movements.The sounds cut into Cedric like a burning blade. He bit down so hard on his lower lip that he tasted blood. His fingers dug into the mattress until his knuckles turned white.He wanted to get up. He wanted to storm into the next tent. He wanted to drag Julian away and kill him with his own hands. The fever left him too weak to move. Pain spread through every part of his body, and he could barely lift a finger.All he could do was lie there with bloodshot eyes, listening as reality shattered what little hope he had left. Every sound reminded him that he had lost Serena completely. One night felt longer than a lifetime.By the time dawn arrived, the sounds had long since faded. The last trace of hope i

  • The Last Snowfall   Chapter 20

    Rage and worry surged through Cedric at the same time. Without thinking, he spurred his horse toward Serena. He wanted to drag her away from the battlefield and send her somewhere safe.Just as he was about to ride forward, everything changed.An arrow suddenly shot from the side. Hidden among a group of retreating enemy soldiers, an archer had fired from a blind spot. The arrow flew straight toward Julian's heart.Julian was too busy fighting several opponents in front of him to notice."Julian!"Serena's eyes widened in terror. She cried out his name and ran forward without a second thought, but the chaos of the battlefield blocked her path.Everything happened in an instant.A figure dressed in black suddenly charged in from the side. Before anyone could react, he slammed into Julian. Both men crashed from the horse and hit the ground.Pfft!The sound of flesh being pierced rang out clearly.The arrow that should have struck Julian's heart buried itself deep in Cedric's ri

  • The Last Snowfall   Chapter 19

    Cedric slowly raised his head to look at her. In the dim candlelight, he could see the faint trace of disgust on her calm, distant face. She was no longer the obedient and tolerant woman he remembered. Most importantly, there was no love in her eyes.There never had been.The realization struck him harder than any blade.All he could see now was coldness, and for the first time, it truly sank in. He had lost her.Completely.Forever.Cedric pushed himself off the floor and staggered to his feet. Standing unsteadily beside the bed, he gave her one last lingering look, as though trying to carve her image into the deepest part of his soul. Then he turned and walked away.He looked hollow.Broken.Like a man whose spirit had already left him.His footsteps faded down the corridor before disappearing into the darkness outside.That night, Cedric wandered aimlessly through the freezing streets of the Northern border. Eventually, he found a small roadside stall that was still servi

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