LOGINThe day I learned the truth about my husband, Duke Alistair, and his adopted sister, Liana, I left. I abandoned my title, my home, and returned to my father's palace. A year passed. Then came news of chaos in the duchy. The servant Alistair sent spoke with desperation, “Your Highness, the Duke and your son are lost to reason. If you don’t return, I fear they will burn everything to the ground.” I looked at the blood I'd coughed onto my handkerchief. I nodded. "Fine. I'll go back." The doctor had already given me my diagnosis. Consumption. I had only a month left to live. So I went back. And I played the part of the perfect duchess. I no longer demanded Alistair's loyalty. I even found him three new mistresses who looked just like Liana and sent them to his bed after he had sent her away for me. I no longer made Damian study the arts of statecraft and not forced him to master his courtly duties. Instead, I supported his ridiculous dream of joining the Expeditionary Force. I took the pain they gave me. I wrapped it in the "understanding" they always craved. And I served it back to them cold. But it drove Alistair mad. He threw out the mistresses. He crushed me in his arms. His kiss was a punishment. He bit my lip, drawing blood. "I sent Liana away! What more do you want from me? How can I earn your forgiveness?" Damian cried and clung to my arm. "I'll never call Aunt Liana 'gentle' or 'beautiful' again! Mother, please. Just stop." They didn't understand. I wasn't making a scene. I just wanted to live out my last month in peace. And then, I wanted to die.
View MoreMatahari telah meredup, cahaya jingganya telah bergeser ke barat. Angin sore menambah syahdu suasana.
Aku tengah menyender pada sofa panjang di ruang keluarga rumahku. Sembari sesekali menyeruput kopi yang sedari tadi tergeletak di meja. Jemariku asik menggeser layar ponsel membuka tutup aplikasi berwarna biru. Sebenarnya tak banyak yang kulakukan pada benda itu. Aku hanya membuka kunci layar, menatapnya sebentar lalu menguncinya kembali. Begitu seterusnya. Pikiranku bercampur. Antara sedih, senang atau apa, semua membaur menciptakan kebingungan. Ekspresi apa yang harus aku tampakkan."Kenapa dia tiba tiba muncul?" Gumamku.Aku kembali membuka aplikasi biru. Kutelusuri pesan didalammya. Jemariku terhenti pada satu nama.Hendi pradipta
Laki-laki yang sempat menjalin hubungan denganku di masa sekolah dulu. Sejak lulus SMA aku tak tau kabarnya. Lebih tepatnya, aku tak ingin tau kabarnya. Entah mengapa kini dia datang dikehidupanku lagi. Disaat aku akan menikah dengan calon suamiku.
*****
Enam tahun lalu
Hari itu, pagi sudah berganti siang. Anak anak berseragam putih abu abu keluar melewati gerbang. Beberapa terlihat setengah berlari. Akupun berjalan bergegas mengejar beberapa anak didepan.
"Tungguin weeeyyy...!!!" Teriakku sembari menarik bagian belakang tas satu dari beberapa anak itu."Naaayyy sakit" protes anak itu.Lainnya menyambut dengan merangkulku kemudian berjalan beriringan sambil bergurau. Yah, Aku, ilma, Dini dan Mei. Kami bersahabat dari sekolah dasar. Tak pernah ada yang di tutupi seakan rasa canggung telah luntur diantara kami. Bahkan untuk melakukan hal konyol yang memalukan pun kami sudah tak memiliki gengsi. Sangat manis jika diceritakan.Pernah sekali saat aku sakit. Mereka rela menginap di rumahku agar dapat merawat dan menjagaku. Maklum, ibu bekerja sebagai kasir toko saat itu. Waktunya tak banyak dirumah karena harus pergi bekerja dipagi hari dan pulang saat matahari sudah terbenam. Itupun jika tak ada lembur karena barang datang.Setiap hari kami berangkat bersama. Berpisah hanya ketika memasuki gang rumah masing-masing. Selebihnya kami kembali berkumpul pada grup chat di ponsel."Aku duluan yaaa...daahhh" ucapku saat keluar dari angkutan kota yang bisa mereka tumpangi."Daaahhh" sahut lainnya dari dalam angkutanAku menyusuri jalan komplek yang lengang. Karena biasanya siang hari memang sebagian penduduknya belum pulang bekerja." yuk nay naik. Biar sekalian saya antar" tegur Hendi yang mengendarai motor matic dengan warna maroon hitamTanpa menjawab aku biasanya langsung membonceng. Lumayan biar nggak capek pikirku. Hendi adalah anak pindahan dari luar kota. Kebetulan rumahnya berjarak tak jauh dari rumahku. Dia tampan, baik, pandai, supel. Aahh sepertinya idaman banyak siswi disekolahku. Kami sering pulang bersama walau hanya sejauh gang depan komplek sampai gerbang rumahku. Lama-lama hal itu menjadi kebiasaan yang menyenangkan bagiku. Bahkan pernah suatu kali...******Waktu pulang adalah waktu yang paling ditunggu para murid. Suara bel langsung menghamburkan mereka seolah berebut untuk keluar gerbang terlebih dahulu.Aku selalu keluar terlambat dibanding lainnya. Karena memang harus mengumpulkan tugas teman-teman ke ruang guru."ilmaaaa....Dinii...meeyy...tungguin..." teriakuTapi secepat kilat tangan Hendi menarikku kebalik gerbang. Telunjuknya tertempel dibibir isyraratkan agar aku diam. Rupanya ia telah bersiap. Motornya telah terparkir d balik gerbang.Kali ini Hendi mengajakku pulang bersama. Tentu membuatku berbunga. Jantungku seperti tak beraturan, tanganku dingin. Aahh rasanya sulit dijelaskan.Siang itu banyak yang kita bicarakan. Tapi entah mengapa tak melewati jalan yang biasa kita lewati."Biar lebih lama sampainya, mungkin." gumamku tersipu.Pikiranku kemana-mana. Sangat menyenangkan mengingat awal kedekatanku dengan Hendi. Tapi, lamunan hanyalah lamunan.Braakkkk...!!!! Suara pintu setengah terbanting mengagetkanku"Dipanggilin dari tadi nduukk nduukk...ternyata di sini. Ngelamunin apa si??" Kata ibu dengan nada setengah berteriak. Membuyarkan lamunanku pada masalalu."Astaghfirulloh,,, maaf ma" "Lagi ngelamunin apa sih Nay?" Tanya mas Radit"Eehh mas Radit,,, enggak kok mas. Cuma sedikit capek aja abis shift malam" terangku meyakinkannyaMas Radit adalah tunanganku. Sebulan lagi kami menikah. Kami sedang sibuk sibuknya mengurus keperluan pernikahan kami. Tapi pikiranku malah kacau oleh pesan singkat dari Hendi."Ya sudah kamu istirahat dulu, kita viting ke rumah mba Reni besok saja. Toh kamu besok libur kan? Ujar mas Radit"Iya mas, makasih ya" jawabku sembari tersenyumMas Radit sosok yang sangat sabar, dewasa sangat berlawanan dengan watakku yang tak sabaran. Satu tahun menjalin hubungan, dia langsung melamarku. Tentu langsung aku terima. Karena dia sosok idaman banyak wanita termasuk aku tentunya.Tapi sebelum pesan itu masuk ke notifikasi ponsel ku. Entah, sekarang rasanya seperti banyak pertimbangan dalam otakku. Perasaanku berkecamuk. Pada satu sisi aku sangat mencintai calon suamiku. Tapi tak dipungkiri aku merindukan Hendi.Rasa ingin menemuinya pun muncul.Banyak pertanyaan yang ingin ku luapkan."Kenapa sekarang?""Kenapa?""Dari dulu kenapa diam?""Kenapa hen?"Alistair's POVThree days later, the smell of decay began to rise from Seraphina's body.I had to face reality."Prepare a funeral," my voice was dry. "A private one."Her coffin was placed in the most remote corner of the garden, right where the burned memorial tree had once stood.I dug her grave with my own hands."Alistair..." My mother rushed to my side. Seeing my hands, covered in dirt and blisters, she began to weep. "My child, what are you doing...""Go back to the convent," I said without looking up. "You are not needed here.""But Seraphina...""I said, go back!" I roared. "All of you, get out!"Terrified, my mother was led away by the servants.I dismissed most of the staff, keeping only a few essential servants.Then I gave the order: seal the duchy.No one in, no one out.Because what I had to do next could not be disturbed.It was just me, Damian, and Liana in the cellar.That's all that was left of us.On the first full moon, I took Damian to the sacrificial chamber.Lia
Alistair's POVThe room returned to a dead silence.I held Seraphina and sat. Just sat.Her body grew colder, stiffer.I could feel death stealing the last of her warmth.But I didn't dare let go.I was afraid if I did, she would be truly gone.Outside the window, the sky turned from black to gray, then from gray to the pale light of dawn.I held her all night, without moving.My arms were numb, my neck as stiff as stone, but I didn't care.When the sun was fully up, a cruel fact finally settled in.She was never waking up.I carefully carried her back to the Morningstar Wing.The servants had already restored it to how it was.All of Liana's things were gone. The room looked like ours again.But as I looked around, a devastating reality hit me.There was nothing of hers left.The beautiful portraits—I had ordered them burned.The rare books we collected together—she had packed them, and I had thrown them away.The gorgeous gowns she once wore—Liana had gotten rid of them long ago.The
Alistair's POV"Your Grace! Did you hear me? The Young Lord is going to kill Miss Liana!"The butler's voice echoed in my ears, but I didn't react.I just held Seraphina, feeling the last traces of warmth leave her body."Your Grace!" The butler grew more frantic. "Miss Liana is going to drown!""Let her die," my voice was pure ice. "If she dies, she dies. What is it to me?"The butler froze."Everyone out," I said, clutching Seraphina tighter. "I want to be alone with her."The room was quiet again. Just me and her."Seraphina, you're still a little warm..." I pressed my cheek against hers. "Don't get cold so fast, please? Let me hold you a little longer..."CRASH!The door was thrown open.Liana burst in, soaking wet.Her hair was a mess, her clothes dripping water."Alistair! Help me!" she shrieked, stumbling toward me. "Damian is trying to kill me! He's really trying to kill me!"I looked at her coldly."You deserve it.""What?" Liana stared in disbelief. "I'm your adopted sister!
Alistair's POV"NO—! MOTHER—!"Damian's howl tore through the night. He collapsed to the ground, his whole body shaking.But I heard nothing.It was as if all sound had been sucked from my world. The only thing left was the physician's voice, echoing in my head: there are no signs of life."She's not dead!" I shot to my feet, roaring at the physician. "You dare curse her! You quack!"I kicked Damian, who was still wailing on the ground.He tumbled backward, but I didn't care."If it wasn't for you!" Damian suddenly scrambled up, a hateful fire in his eyes. He lunged for Liana. "If you hadn't told him to use the memorial tree against her—the grave of her lost child—my mother wouldn't be dead!"His fists rained down on her."This is all your fault! It's all your fault, you bitch!" Damian sobbed as he hit her. "Why did my mother have to die! Why!"Liana screamed in pain until she finally passed out."Guards!" I roared at the captain, a madman. "Bring me every doctor in the city! Tie them












Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
reviews