The Marked Lady

Everyone in the great hall exchanged looks. Seer Corvyn tried to speak again, but I stopped him with a glance.

That blank royal decree had been granted years ago as a gift from the King in honour of Aldric’s mother, who had sacrificed her life to save him. No one had expected Aldric to use it now. In the previous life, even with my help, it was that very decree that had given him the legitimate grounds to claim the throne, and now he had spent it on Rosalind.

The Queen, however, seemed almost relieved that he had used it early. It was better that he used it now than let it fester into future trouble.

“Lady Leanora, what say you?” the Queen asked.

“His Highness does my sister great honour,” I replied, lowering into a curtsey. “It is a distinction for the House Ashveil.”

Aldric looked at me, his gaze complicated. However, his resolve never wavered.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “I seek Rosalind’s hand not out of ambition for my brother’s succession, but because she and I are of one heart. She is only an illegitimate daughter of the House. She carries no claim to the prophecy. I ask only for Your Majesty’s blessing.”

The Queen fell silent for a long moment before speaking again. “And yet all of Royal City knows that it is Lady Leanora who has been at your side since childhood. For you to now say–”

Aldric cut her off quickly. “I always saw her as a younger sister. I am sorry the court misread my intentions.”

I sneered inwardly. A younger sister? How convenient.

The Crown Prince Caelen had the aura of a born king. Without the luck I once lent Alric, he had nothing to fight with. If he truly wished to wager everything on Rosalind, that illegitimate sister of mine, I would gladly grant his wish.

However, the moment I stepped out of the hall, one of Aldric’s attendants stopped me.

“My lady, His Highness requests a moment.”

I was brought to a corner tower. Cup after cup of tea was placed before me. I had no choice but to drink them, yet Aldric himself did not appear. By the time my bladder felt ready to burst, he finally entered, cold-faced.

“When Rosalind begged you for help once before, this was how you treated her. How does it feel now?”

In my previous life, military intelligence had been at stake, so I had no choice but to stop her. He had won a great victory because of it, yet he still resented me for it.

“I know you’ve been reborn too, Leanora,” he said suddenly. “Although you are vicious and jealous, we were husband and wife once. I won’t destroy you completely. If you can’t let go of your feelings for me, you may come to court as a mistress after Rosaline and me are wed.”

I set the teacup down on the table with a firm click.

“The best outcome for both of us, Your Highness, is that you go your own way and I’ll go mine. If anyone should be seeking revenge, it is I who should be seeking it of you, not the reverse. Since you are engaged to be wed, the greatest service we can do each other is to maintain a proper distance. I will petition to retire to the Convent of St. Mary for a year of prayer. That should avoid any suspicion.”

Instead of being pleased with my tact, Aldric’s expression darkened further. As I walked past him toward the exit, he grabbed my arm.

“Your death was my doing. I will not pretend otherwise. But had you not painted that birthmark on your forehead to imitate Rosaline, I would not have lost my temper. Stay in your place this time, and there will always be a position for you in my household. We had shared happiness once. So long as you do not reach for the consort’s crown, a favored place as my mistress–”

I took a deep breath and cut him off. “You and I go our separate ways. I will not be someone’s mistress.”

The moment I returned to House Ashveil, a royal messenger arrived with a decree.

Father, looking pleased with himself, pushed me forward.

“Well? Hurry up and receive the royal decree.”

Before I could explain anything, the royal messenger spoke, “Lord Chancellor, I beg your pardon. This decree is addressed to the second daughter of your household—the illegitimate one.”