Fear

Vaeldric POV

"What is all this, Vaeldric? Explain yourself!"

My father's voice thundered through the Ashbourne estate. Magnus Ashbourne threw a stack of newspapers and tabloids across the desk, his glare sharp with fury.

LADY ASHBOURNE PUBLICLY CONFRONTS RUMORED MISTRESS AT CHILD'S MEMORIAL RECEPTION

GRIEVING MOTHER BREAKS SILENCE AMID AFFAIR ALLEGATIONS

FUNERAL RECEPTION TURNS TENSE AS LADY ASHBOURNE ADDRESSES RUMORS

MISTRESS AT A FUNERAL? LADY ASHBOURNE'S EXPLOSIVE ACCUSATION SHOCKS VALERION

SIX YEARS WAITING FOR A CHILD—LADY ASHBOURNE ACCUSES HUSBAND OF CHOOSING ANOTHER WOMAN

NATIONAL HERO OR NEGLECTFUL HUSBAND? PUBLIC DEBATE ERUPTS AROUND GENERAL VAELDRIC

"I'll handle it, Father." I tried to sound calm.

Lately, Seraphina had gone too far. She wasn't just waging war against me anymore. She was dragging my family and reputation into it as well.

"You should have handled it before it left this house," Father snapped. "I didn't raise a weak commander."

"I'll make sure it doesn't get any worse. I'll fix it, whatever it takes."

The former general—still regarded as a symbol of strength throughout Valerion—slowly brought his emotions under control. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

Yet somehow, that only made me feel worse. I'd rather see him slam his fist against the table than look at me with disappointment.

For the first time, his favorite son had made a fatal mistake. I hadn't just damaged my marriage and my relationship with House Vermont. My personal failure was turning into a national scandal.

What unsettled me most, however, wasn't Father's disappointment. It was Seraphina's silence.

I had seen her angry before. Rarely, but it happened.

Usually, she would confront a problem directly, dissect it with that frighteningly sharp mind of hers, and somehow find a solution before everyone else.

But this time she wasn't trying to solve anything. She wasn't asking questions, seeking explanations, or wasn't even crying anymore.

She had simply stopped reaching for me. Stopped looking and caring at me. And somehow, that terrified me more than her hatred ever could.

The nursery was still untouched.

Just a week ago, Seraphina had been discussing names. A month ago, she had spent an entire afternoon debating curtains, furniture, and which stories we would read before bedtime.

I remembered pretending to be annoyed. The truth was, I had enjoyed every second of it. Now the room stood empty.

The child we had waited six years for was gone before I even had the chance to hold them. And somehow, I still hadn't found the courage to grieve properly.

"Starting a war with House Vermont is not a wise move," Father said, pulling me back to reality. "Win your wife back. Bring her under control, whatever it takes."

There was no room for negotiation.

"And out of all the women in Valerion, you chose to create a scandal with a Varenn?" His eyes hardened.

"Do you want people calling you a traitor too?" I fell silent.

Considering what had happened to Lysara's family twenty years ago, it wasn't surprising that Magnus Ashbourne would bring it up.

Back then, however, I had neither power nor authority. Not when House Varenn was punished by the Crown.

Not when opportunists descended upon them and stripped away everything they could.

I still remembered Lysara running toward me that day, her hands trembling, fear written all over her face as she begged for help.

That was when I promised to protect her. The same way I protected Amelia, my younger sister.

Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan. Our closeness was constantly misunderstood, feeding rumors that should never have existed in the first place.

Then I met Seraphina. She was graceful, intelligent, dignified. The middle daughter of House Vermont.

I didn't want another man to claim her before I could, so I proposed. Our marriage was a happy one.

A few times, she asked about the rumors surrounding Lysara and me. Each time, I reassured her there was nothing between us.

Because at the time, I truly believed there wasn't. I had always seen Lysara as a younger sister.

Then one night, I made a mistake. I accidentally slept with her. I had been heavily intoxicated that night. I thought I was with Seraphina. Even she didn't stop it from happening.

I kept telling myself that my love for Seraphina—and the child we had waited six years for—would give me the courage to confess everything and beg for her forgiveness.

But I kept postponing it. Truthfully, I couldn't simply cut Lysara off and walk away. Not after what I'd done to her.

There were nights when I tried to distance myself. Every single time, Lysara would be nuts.

She would disappear for days, refuse food, visitors, and anything. Lock herself inside her room.

Once, she sent me a letter containing only three words.

'I am tired'.

I spent the entire night searching for her. At dawn, I found her standing at the edge of a cliff overlooking the eastern sea.

Maybe she never intended to jump. Or maybe she did. I never asked. I was simply relieved to find her alive.

Perhaps those were just excuses. I had been making excuses for so long that I no longer knew the difference.

Every time I tried to leave, she looked at me as though I was the only thing keeping her alive. Walking away would've made me a coward. Staying made me a traitor. Somewhere along the way, I became both.

Father laughed humorlessly. "Do you know what the Church is saying?"

I frowned.

"They are calling Seraphina a disgrace."

That wasn't surprising. A noblewoman publicly humiliating her husband was almost unheard of. Especially during a memorial reception.

"But every time they condemn her," Father continued, "public sympathy grows."

I remained silent.

"People don't see a rebellious wife anymore, Vaeldric." His gaze sharpened.

"They see a grieving mother."

A knock interrupted the conversation.

"Come in."

Mr. Hans, Father's longtime assistant, hurried inside carrying his old work tablet.

"Forgive me, sir. I believe you need to see the latest headlines."

He handed the device to Father. For a moment, Father read in silence. His eyes flicked toward me. Then back to the screen. The longer he read, the darker his expression became.

"Read this, Vaeldric."

He placed the tablet on the desk. I stepped closer.

CROWN PRINCE'S PRIVATE CONVERSATION WITH LADY ASHBOURNE SPARKS SPECULATION

WHY DID THE CROWN PRINCE SEEK OUT SERAPHINA ASHBOURNE?

ASHBOURNE SCANDAL TAKES A ROYAL TURN

IS HOUSE VERMONT SHIFTING ITS ALLEGIANCE TO THE CROWN PRINCE?

My stomach sank.

"You still think this is about your marriage?" Father's fist slammed against the desk.

"Wake up, Vaeldric." His voice was ice-cold. "This has become politics."

Silence filled the room. "If Seraphina wants a war, then end it before House Vermont remembers how powerful they are."

For the first time since this nightmare began, I realized something far worse than losing my marriage.

If Seraphina continued turning public opinion against us... If the palace decided to involve itself... Then I wasn't just losing my wife.

I might lose everything.