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Chapter 7

Author: Portrait
When Snow regained consciousness, the first sensation that greeted her was the burning ache that spread across her back.

Emmanuel sat beside her bed, medicine prepared and waiting at his hand. The moment he noticed her eyes open, he immediately assisted her in sitting up.

“You have finally awakened, Miss Snow!” A troubled sigh escaped him as he handed her the medicine.

“Why must you allow your temper to lead you into conflict with His Majesty? I have served him for many years, and never before have I witnessed him remain outside another’s chamber for nearly an entire day after ordering them whipped.”

Snow accepted the medicine. The bitter liquid passed down her throat, yet it could not compare to the bitterness that had long settled within her heart.

“You give the matter too much meaning, Mr. Jefferson,” she whispered. “I was not overcome by anger toward His Majesty.”

Emmanuel shook his head. “If I may speak freely… His Majesty may be severe with you, but after he punishes you, he always…”

His voice trailed away for a moment before he resumed, “Your father placed his loyalty with the wrong prince, and it cannot be helped that you were caught in the consequences of his choice.

“When Lady Verde marries His Majesty, you need only accommodate their wishes. Life will become far easier for you.”

Snow offered no response. Instead, she reached beneath her pillow and retrieved a small purse. She placed it into Emmanuel’s hands.

“Thank you for taking care of me all this while, Mr. Jefferson.”

Emmanuel weighed the purse in his palm in surprise. “Miss Snow, what’s the meaning of this?”

“It is merely a token of my gratitude. Please take it.” Snow grimaced in pain.

Emmanuel still sensed that something was amiss, yet after a moment of hesitation, he accepted the purse.

That evening, Aleron unexpectedly summoned her to his chambers.

Snow stood before his bed.

Her voice trembled as she said, “Your Majesty, I have not yet fully recovered. My injuries may prove unpleasant to behold—”

“Remove your clothes.” Aleron interrupted her without warmth.

His expression was dark and unreadable.

Snow lowered her gaze and pressed her lips together.

Tomorrow, she would leave.

She had no desire to endure another night of suffering before her departure.

Yet if she refused him, she feared the consequences would destroy the plans she had spent so long preparing.

With trembling hands, she removed her garments as though she were a soldier walking toward the battlefield and accepting her final fate.

But before the moment could continue, hurried footsteps sounded beyond the chamber doors.

“Your Majesty, there is urgent news!” A guard entered in haste. His expression was filled with alarm.

“Lady Verde has been poisoned. The royal physician has declared that only the rarest antidote within the royal pharmacy may save her. Otherwise, she might not survive.”

Aleron rose instantly. For the first time, panic flashed unmistakably across his face.

Almost instinctively, his gaze fell upon the injuries covering Snow’s back. Then, his expression hardened once more. “Go to your chambers and rest. Come here tomorrow night.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Snow lowered herself into a curtsy. As she left, relief filled her heart.

There would be no tomorrow night. There would be no need for her to return.

Once she reached her room, she began to pack only what was necessary.

At the first hint of dawn, a gentle knock sounded against her window.

“It is time.” Ciaran’s voice drifted softly into the room.

Snow changed into a set of plain, coarse robes before opening the window.

Ciaran entered with effortless grace and placed a mask into her hands. “Wear this.”

Once she fastened it upon her face, her appearance transformed completely. She became nothing more than an ordinary woman among countless others.

Ciaran then placed an arm around her waist and whispered, “Hold tightly.”

With the ease of a shadow moving through the night, he crossed the palace and carried her beyond the place that had imprisoned her for three long years.

Behind them, flames began to rise from Snow’s chamber. Within the burning room lay the body of a woman whose figure bore enough resemblance to Snow’s own to deceive those who sought her.

The fire illuminated a portion of the morning sky. Snow cast one last lingering glance upon the palace that had confined her for three years before turning away and vanishing into the quiet veil of the morning fog.

From that day forward, Snow would be but a memory within the palace walls, as though she had never existed there at all.

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  • The Many Regrets In A Sea Of Flowers   Chapter 23

    After arranging for someone to keep watch over Snow, Aleron returned to the palace and resumed his duties as ruler of the kingdom.No matter where Snow went, once he had settled the affairs awaiting him at court, he would quietly follow after her.So long as she remained unaware of his presence, he considered it enough.Ciaran held Snow’s hand and found himself endlessly frustrated by the situation, yet there was little he could do.Though he was the finest assassin in the world, Aleron’s endless supply of guards and sentries made it nearly impossible to act without consequence.More importantly, if Snow discovered that he had spilled the blood of innocent people because of this matter, she would undoubtedly be displeased with him. Ciaran could endure many things, but he could not bear to see her upset.Thus, he could only pretend that he noticed nothing and remained faithfully by Snow’s side, guarding her as he always had.Five years passed in the blink of an eye, and Andrey gr

  • The Many Regrets In A Sea Of Flowers   Chapter 22

    When Emmanuel saw Andrey, a gentle smile immediately softened his expression. He bent slightly and spoke to the child in a fond, soothing manner.It was a rather curious thing. Andrey seemed to take offense at only one person in particular: Aleron. Whenever the child caught sight of him, his little face would crumple, and he would begin to cry.In truth, Andrey had already shed tears several times throughout the day.Snow found herself growing increasingly frustrated and had begun considering whether it might be best to leave. “Ciaran, if they are so fond of this place, then let us leave it to them. “We can travel wherever we please and stay wherever we find ourselves comfortable.”“Very well. We shall do as you wish.” Ciaran had never been concerned with where he lived.To him, a place was merely a place. The only thing that gave it meaning was Snow. Wherever she was, that was his home.As expected, Ciaran did not waste time. Before long, their belongings had been packed, and

  • The Many Regrets In A Sea Of Flowers   Chapter 21

    Before he could finish speaking, Ciaran had already struck Aleron across the face. His face was stormy. He was swift and agile. Even though Aleron had been trained in combat and had fought upon the battlefield before, he could not stand against the man who had earned the title of the world’s greatest assassin through countless deadly encounters.Every strike from Ciaran was precise and ruthless, aimed directly at Aleron’s vital points as though he intended to end his life then and there.An assassin had no concern for whether a method was considered honorable. Ambushes, concealed weapons, and unexpected attacks were all tools of their trade.However, Aleron was still the king. Countless guards immediately surged forward, surrounding him and shielding him as they launched one attack after another against Ciaran. Several poisoned blades flew toward Aleron, but a guard stepped forward and took them in his place.When they realized ordinary attacks were useless against Ciaran, the

  • The Many Regrets In A Sea Of Flowers   Chapter 20

    After they had finished cleaning the tavern, they closed their doors early and returned home.However, when they reached their cottage, nestled beneath the flowering trees that scattered petals upon the ground, they found a man of imposing and noble bearing standing outside. He held a crying child in his arms. He tried to comfort the child, but his movements were stiff and awkward.The boy possessed an adorable little face, yet he continued to cry without pause.The moment Snow saw Aleron, all the warmth drained from her body. Her face turned pale, and she trembled uncontrollably.Why was he here? Why was he holding her son?Panic seized her heart. She wanted nothing more than to rush forward, snatch her child away, and flee.“Are you alright, Yvonne?” Ciaran remained calm. He supported her gently and, with the same composed expression he always wore, guided her toward their home.“Sir, would you please put our son down? He is crying because he is frightened of strangers.”Sn

  • The Many Regrets In A Sea Of Flowers   Chapter 19

    Snow’s breath caught in her throat. Tears blurred her vision, and a tremor of fear ran through her. “Ciaran, I do not wish to return and suffer beneath his hand again.”Though three years had passed, the memories of the palace remained deeply engraved upon her heart, refusing to fade with time.After escaping the palace with Ciaran, they spent their days fleeing and concealing their identities. She changed her appearance countless times before they finally managed to leave the capital behind.Only then did Snow realize how frightened and lost she truly had been. Though she had been an unloved illegitimate daughter who had endured a difficult existence, she had never known what it meant to survive entirely on her own. Shortly after reaching adulthood, she had been sent to the palace to serve another man. She had suffered countless humiliations, yet she had never needed to worry about where her next meal would come from.She had gained her freedom, but she had nowhere to belong.

  • The Many Regrets In A Sea Of Flowers   Chapter 18

    Three years passed in the blink of an eye.Snow had made a quiet life for herself, managing a small tavern near the borderlands.A broad-shouldered blacksmith with sun-browned skin tossed a handful of coins toward the waiter. “The usual. Three pints of your elderflower wine. My wife is rather fond of it.”The patrons gathered within the tavern were a cheerful sort and loved to converse.“Yvonne, is your guard of a husband still away? How long has it been now? Nearly a month, is it not? Why has he not returned? Surely he has not encountered any trouble?” said someone.“I have to say. You may not possess the most striking beauty, but you are still a woman who could easily find a respectable husband who could give you a good life. Your husband is hardly ever beside you. Are you certain you do not wish to remarry?” asked another.“That’s true. If something were to happen to him, you would have someone to rely upon instead of returning to an empty home, as you do now.”Though their w

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