Chapter 6

As expected, Silas opened his eyes and looked past everyone directly at Eleanor.

"She is the source," he said calmly. "She was born under a solitary star that destroys family and self. Her presence disrupted the fortunate signs surrounding the King."

It was exactly the judgment from her previous life.

The guests reacted at once.

"A ruinous star? Then surely Mr. Wycliffe must end the engagement."

"I've heard people with that fate destroy everyone who comes near them."

People moved away from Eleanor as though avoiding disease, leaving a wide empty circle around her.

She drew a breath and defended herself.

"I wasn't born cursed. Ask any other qualified seer if you doubt me."

Someone laughed coldly. "Mr. Wycliffe is the greatest seer in the Kingdom. How could he be wrong?"

Silas sighed suddenly, his voice mixing helplessness with devotion.

"Eleanor is the woman I love. I can't bring myself to give her up.

"I will transfer part of my own fortune to dissolve the curse, but she must endure purification to wash away the corruption."

"However," he continued, "even after purification, some danger will remain.

"No one except me should become close to her. Those with weaker charts may suffer illness or even death."

A gasp went through the room.

Eleanor went cold while Silas appeared righteous and deeply loving.

Once the judgment spread, she would never again be treated as human.

She tried to protest, but attendants forced her from the hall, unwilling to touch her and pushing her forward from a distance.

For the next three days, she was locked inside a freezing wing and secured in a massive stone bathing trough.

The trough was filled with ice water and bitter herbs while attendants scrubbed her skin with rough brushes.

They concentrated especially on her hands.

They pierced her fingertips with fine needles and squeezed out blood they called contaminated.

Each time, pain and cold drove her unconscious.

When she next surfaced from the darkness, someone was gently working ointment into her torn fingertips.

Silas spoke in a low voice. "No more immersion tomorrow. The wedding is close. Return her to Pembroke Residence.

"Did you resolve the issues on the royal banquet?"

A guard answered, "Yes. Do you still want the story about your future wife's cursed birth spread publicly?"

"Continue." Silas's tone was calm. "Spread it as widely as possible. Let everyone know."

The guard hesitated. "Her reputation will be destroyed."

"I understand what I'm doing." Silas paused. "After this, no one except me will dare approach her."

Pain entered Eleanor's chest. He had done it deliberately.

He wanted the whole world to reject her so she would have nowhere except his side.

She refused to live that life again.

Silas personally carried her home, and she opened her eyes only after he placed her on the bed.

He tucked the blanket around her and said with gentle seriousness, "Don't be afraid. I handled what happened at the palace.

"Once you marry me tomorrow, the servants won't dare speak against you. Stay beside me, and I will never let anyone hurt you."

Eleanor turned her face away.

Silas assumed she was sulking, sighed, patted her shoulder, and left.

Before dawn the next morning, Eleanor changed into the bridal dress and slipped into Cecilia's carriage through the side gate.

The carriage had barely lifted when hoofbeats sounded outside.

"Wait."

It was Silas.

Eleanor's heart tightened, and her fingers closed around her sleeve.

Through a gap in the curtain, she saw him mounted in a formal black wedding coat with several guards behind him.

He bowed toward the carriage. "Miss Cecilia, I can never repay the debt of you saving my life. Since you marry today, I came to add a gift to your settlement."

A guard carried forward a velvet box and passed it through the small window.

Eleanor knew Silas believed she was Cecilia.

She did not risk speaking and only nodded.

Morning light outlined the blurred figure inside the carriage, and Silas suddenly felt it was familiar.

Unease moved through him, and he opened his mouth.

"Mr. Wycliffe, the appointed hour is near. You must collect your own bride," the ceremony official urged.

Silas suppressed the feeling and smiled. "Take care. I hope the two of you grow old together."

He turned his horse and rode away.

Eleanor watched the dark figure disappear around the corner and lowered the curtain.

"Please go quickly."

The old life was finished. She was traveling toward a new place and a new lifetime.