Chapter 5

Snow was left stunned.

Aleron still loved Verde.

Even after the passing of three years, he had yet to make her his wife.

Why, then, did he continue to keep her confined within the palace walls?

She lowered her head and replied in a quiet voice, “I would never presume to do so.”

Aleron studied her pale countenance and fragile appearance, and his brows drew together slightly. “Since you have recovered, you shall remain by my side and attend to me from this day onward.”

From that moment, Aleron appeared to find fault with every meal that was presented before him.

No matter how carefully the royal kitchens prepared their nourishing dishes, he would taste them only once before setting them aside and pushing them toward Snow. “It’s dreadful. You shall eat this.”

Snow had no choice but to accept the food beneath his watchful gaze.

Before she was even aware, she began recovering.

…

During one of the royal hunting excursions, Aleron insisted on taking Snow with him.

At the hunting grounds, Verde rode alongside William. Aleron’s expression immediately cooled. Without warning, he reached out and pulled Snow onto his horse.

“Ah!” A startled sound escaped her before she could restrain herself.

“Quiet!” His arm remained firmly around her waist as he looked down at her with displeasure. “Are you not Verde’s sister? She’s never so easily frightened.

“Cry out once more, and I shall throw you from this horse and allow the others to trample you beneath their feet.”

Snow pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. She was unwilling to look upon the distance below or the danger of the ride.

Aleron gave a faint, humorless scoff and turned his attention back to the hunt. Before long, he had secured an impressive amount of game.

Without warning, a multitude of men dressed in black emerged from the forest.

“Protect His Majesty!”

The royal guards immediately drew their swords and surrounded the King. However, amid the confusion, Snow and Verde were separated from the others and captured.

When Snow regained consciousness, she found herself suspended beside a steep cliff.

A bandit stood before them. His laughter was harsh and filled with resentment as he held his weapon near Snow and Verde. “Aleron, you destroyed my family, and today, I shall take the two women you value most from you!”

Aleron merely looked upon him with a gaze devoid of warmth. Then, to the bandit’s surprise, he laughed. “The two women I value the most?”

“Verde is already another man’s wife. I have no desire for a woman who belongs to someone else. But Snow has belonged to me since the day she entered the palace. Return her to me, and you may do whatever you wish with Verde.”

Snow’s eyes widened.

At such a moment, when the bandit’s hatred was directed entirely toward them, he had chosen her.

Snow realized that he had not truly forsaken Verde. He had merely lied to divert the bandit’s wrath and spare the woman he loved.

As Snow expected, the bandit threw back his head and laughed. “Very well! I shall perish with this woman and leave you to suffer for the rest of your days!”

Before his words had fully faded, he released Verde and plunged from the cliff with Snow.

At the instant she fell, Snow thought she saw a fierce anguish burning within Aleron’s eyes. His lips moved as though he were calling out to her, but whatever words he spoke were lost to her ears.

Snow had only enough time to brace herself for the inevitable impact, certain that the force of it would leave no part of her unbroken.

The cold invaded her senses, and pain coursed through her entire body as she drifted helplessly within the depths, suspended in a darkness that seemed without end.

“You have finally awakened, Miss Snow!”

A sharp voice reached her through the haze. With great difficulty, Snow opened her eyes. The first sight that greeted her was Emmanuel’s weathered face.

“If you had woken up any later, His Majesty might very well have ordered every royal physician in the kingdom punished.

“His Majesty commanded servants to search for you throughout the entire day and night. After a long and desperate search, they finally discovered you downstream…” Emmanuel wiped the sweat off his brow.

Snow stared at him in astonishment.

‘His Majesty? Does he mean Aleron?’ she pondered.

He was the very man who had driven her to the brink of death. Why would he have done such a thing?

The door swung open. Aleron entered the chamber and approached her. He looked down upon her with the same cold and unreadable gaze she had come to know so well.

“It is fortunate that you are not dead. I have not yet finished tormenting you.” He sneered.

Snow lowered her head. She understood.

He had rescued her for no reason other than to continue his cruelty.

“I understand,” she whispered.