Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

Verde’s heart seemed to stop within her chest. She forced a smile and feigned ignorance. “Your Majesty, you jest. I cannot comprehend what you imply. Snow is my sister. Why should I ever wish her harm? It is I who have endured her repeated attempts to injure me. “I would willingly shed my own blood to preserve her life, yet I cannot bear the thought of seeing harm come to you. “I never desired to marry Prince William. I have not reproached you for blaming me these many years. All I desire now is that no misfortune should befall you, and yet… do you still despise me so deeply?“Is it not enough that my sister has perished and my father has been banished to the desolate northern frontier? Must I too pay for those sins with my life before Your Majesty will be satisfied? If that is indeed your wish, then I shall gladly die.“It would be far kinder than enduring the torment that has weighed upon me all these years!”Tears streaming down her face, Verde closed her eyes and, with ev

It was a day of rest for the servants, yet Emmanuel appeared before the throne room with a stormy expression, as though he had already resigned himself to his fate. “Your Majesty, there is a matter concerning Lady Verde that I must place before you. Even if speaking the truth should cost me my life, I cannot remain silent. “Lady Verde has wronged Miss Snow on more than one occasion, and I possess the evidence to prove it! It was Lady Verde and her attendant who cast Miss Snow into the pond following the banquet. “Miss Snow never raised a hand against her. Lady Verde inflicted that injury upon herself in order to deceive you, Your Majesty. “When Miss Snow lost the child, Lady Verde brought her servants into her chamber and commanded them to strike her, declaring that they should continue until Miss Snow could no longer bear children.“She was also responsible for the deception concerning the token and the poisoning. Lady Verde’s actions have been cruel beyond measure. A woman o

When word of this reached Aleron, he paused in the act of drawing the blood from his own heart.“How foolish…” he muttered softly. Then, after a moment, he continued.He had merely fashioned himself into the image of an idle and pleasure-loving prince in order to deceive the world. While the other princes fought amongst themselves for the throne, he would remain in the shadows until the final moment. Then, he would step forward and claim the victory they had fought so desperately to obtain.Had he revealed his true abilities too soon, he would only have drawn the hostility and suspicion of his rivals upon himself.The late king’s favor had never been of any importance to him.After all, the wounds left by what had happened to his mother had never truly healed. He was the sixth son of the late king. Though his mother was the daughter of a great general and had aided the late king in securing the throne, his father had eventually grown wary of her influence. Even Aleron’s bi

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.Snow had made a quiet life for herself, managing a small tavern near the borderlands.A broad-shouldered blacksmith with sun-browned skin tossed a handful of coins toward the waiter. “The usual. Three pints of your elderflower wine. My wife is rather fond of it.”The patrons gathered within the tavern were a cheerful sort and loved to converse.“Yvonne, is your guard of a husband still away? How long has it been now? Nearly a month, is it not? Why has he not returned? Surely he has not encountered any trouble?” said someone.“I have to say. You may not possess the most striking beauty, but you are still a woman who could easily find a respectable husband who could give you a good life. Your husband is hardly ever beside you. Are you certain you do not wish to remarry?” asked another.“That’s true. If something were to happen to him, you would have someone to rely upon instead of returning to an empty home, as you do now.”Though their w

After they had finished cleaning the tavern, they closed their doors early and returned home.However, when they reached their cottage, nestled beneath the flowering trees that scattered petals upon the ground, they found a man of imposing and noble bearing standing outside. He held a crying child in his arms. He tried to comfort the child, but his movements were stiff and awkward.The boy possessed an adorable little face, yet he continued to cry without pause.The moment Snow saw Aleron, all the warmth drained from her body. Her face turned pale, and she trembled uncontrollably.Why was he here? Why was he holding her son?Panic seized her heart. She wanted nothing more than to rush forward, snatch her child away, and flee.“Are you alright, Yvonne?” Ciaran remained calm. He supported her gently and, with the same composed expression he always wore, guided her toward their home.“Sir, would you please put our son down? He is crying because he is frightened of strangers.”Sn