Betrayal

Seraphina POV

"I'm scared. Everyone blames me for my inability to handle everything, Vaeldric."

I faintly heard a woman's voice coming from the room. Vaeldric. My husband.

My footsteps stopped right at the doorway. Before my hand could even touch the doorknob, I heard Vaeldric's familiar, calming voice.

"You know I will always be on your side and fight all your enemies, Lysara. You don't need to worry."

I stood there for a long moment. Oh. Her again.

Of course it was her. Who else had the freedom to enter and leave Vaeldric's room without an escort besides me?

I shouldn't have been surprised anymore. Although I had to admit, their closeness often bothered me. But how could I be jealous?

Vaeldric had always managed to convince me that everything between them was nothing more than a partnership and political interests.

Considering his position as the commander of Northern Valerion's strongest military force, maintaining peace and stability in this region was naturally his responsibility.

Besides, Lysara's family had been facing countless threats and troubles lately. It was only natural for Vaeldric to get involved.

Not to mention that they had known each other since childhood.

There were even rumors that they had once been in a relationship, but I had never paid much attention to them.

After all, Vaeldric had been my husband for more than six years. There was nothing for me to worry about. He was a responsible man.

Although sometimes, it felt like he was too responsible when it came to his work, often leaving me behind because of it.

I slowly pushed the door open. Surely my presence wouldn't be a disturbance, right? Especially if what they were discussing was truly nothing more than politics.

But what I saw before my eyes left me speechless. I froze. Only after a few moments did my mind begin working again and force my mouth to speak.

"I'm sorry. I think I'm interrupting something. Please, continue."

Lysara and Vaeldric immediately pulled apart. Their passionate kiss came to an abrupt end, replaced by surprise. Only surprise. No panic at all.

As if this was a moment they had always known would eventually come and could not avoid.

"I can explain, Seraphina."

Lysara wiped her lips, the same lips that had just been locked with my husband's right in front of me.

"Oh, come on. Please continue." I smiled. "It doesn't look like this is the first time, anyway. Go ahead. Finish what you started. Do you need me to prepare a bed for the next vulgar scene? It would certainly make things even more impressive."

"Seraphina. Return to your room." Vaeldric spoke firmly, not looking startled in the slightest by my presence.

"Oh, come on, darling. I'd be more than happy to prepare everything you need." I placed a hand on my growing stomach.

"After all, I can no longer serve you properly with this belly getting bigger every day. How impressive. You've already found a future sibling for your child before the child has even been born, Vaeldric."

"You're misunderstanding this, Seraphina. It's not what it looks like."

"Of course." I laughed bitterly.

"This is also my first time seeing people discuss business and politics while kissing. Maybe the two of you are some kind of snakes, communicating by hissing and flicking your tongues at each other."

I walked away. Without another word. And without being stopped.

Vaeldric was far more occupied with comforting Lysara, who had sunk to her knees.

I frowned. Shouldn't I be the one collapsing to my knees? Shouldn't I be the one shocked and devastated after witnessing all of this?

But my anger ran too deep. All the suspicions I had repeatedly buried beneath explanations and denial suddenly came crashing down overnight.

Now everything made sense. Perhaps every rumor surrounding those two was true after all.

I had simply been too naive to see it. I couldn't even imagine how many people had laughed behind my back because of my naivety. How humiliating.

One memory after another flooded my mind. The nights Vaeldric would rush out after a brief message. The scent of perfume that wasn't the one I had prepared for him. The endless urgent matters that supposedly couldn't wait, even in the middle of the night.

There were also countless rumors that I had brushed aside with logic and complete trust in him.

To me, he was simply a workaholic. Everyone knew that. That belief had become the chain that lulled me into complacency, covering up every suspicion and every strange detail that should have served as a warning.

Since I was young, I had always been taught to grow into a strong yet graceful woman. It wouldn't have been difficult for me to uncover the truth if I had wanted to. Unfortunately, I was that foolish.

So foolish that I couldn't see what had been right in front of me all this time.

If tonight had never happened, I would have remained a stupid woman who continued loving, trusting, and submitting herself completely to Vaeldric. Because that was one of the values upheld in Valerion.

A wife was expected to protect her husband's honor no matter the circumstances. Especially for families like ours, who constantly attracted public attention.

Who didn't know Vaeldric Ashborne? He was recognized as the greatest general in Valerion, commanding the largest military force despite his relatively young age.

Besides the Ashborne family's reputation as one of Valerion's legendary military houses, Vaeldric's own abilities were exceptional and beyond question.

It wasn't surprising that my family chose him from among all the men who had proposed to me. From every practical perspective, he was the perfect choice.

As for feelings? Well, he was handsome and imposing enough. How difficult could it be to fall in love with a man who was nearly perfect?

And that was where my stupidity lay. I had fallen too deeply in love. Perhaps I was the only one who had ever fallen in love in this marriage.

As for him? Maybe he hadn't been busy with work all this time. Maybe he had simply been busy with another woman.

Just thinking about it made my head ache. I couldn't even think about what I should do next. The fact that I had managed to remain strong and graceful in front of those two was already a miracle.

I wanted to throw up. My head was spinning. My body felt unbearably hot.

I staggered toward my room, supporting myself against the nearest wall I could reach. What terrible luck.

Why did all of this have to happen while I was carrying his child? It made the wound feel even deeper and more painful.

This child had done nothing wrong. I couldn't sacrifice this child. If anything had to be sacrificed, perhaps it would be me. Or my feelings.

"Abella!"

I shouted as loudly as I could, calling for my youngest attendant. She should have been the quickest to respond and help support me.

I felt increasingly nauseous. My heart was beating faster and faster. My blood and body felt as though they were boiling from within.

I didn't know what was happening to me.

"Abellaaaaa!" I screamed just as blood began to trickle down between my legs.

No. God, please no. Not now. Please, not now.

Then I heard footsteps approaching from behind me. I turned around, ready to thank God because Abella had finally come. But it wasn't her.

It was Vaeldric. And Lysara was with him.

The sight of them only made my blood boil even more, and more blood poured down my legs.