Todos os capítulos de In This Life, I'll Grant Your Heartache: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 9

After I wished the princess, Eleanor Beaumont, and my brother, Valerian Ashford, a lifetime of love and happiness, everyone in the hall turned to look at me in astonishment.Everyone in Alderwyn knew that Eleanor had once climbed 3,000 stone steps through the snow to the gates of the Grand Cathedral of Alderwyn in search of the serenity stone for me, knocking relentlessly until they opened up. She had also searched far and wide for famous physicians when I injured myself on the training grounds, and, disregarding all propriety, had stayed by my side for seven days and nights.She had said that I was the only one she would ever marry, so everyone had assumed that the person standing beside her that day would be me.I noticed Eleanor's eyes on me as well. But after a brief flicker of surprise, only coldness and wariness remained in her eyes.In that instant, I understood—she had been reborn too.In my past life, after Valerian died, she had looked at me the same way, as if she wis

As soon as I returned home, a mug came flying straight at me. Warm blood trickled down along my brow, and the world before my eyes turned scarlet.Father sat in the hall, his face ashen. "Get down on your knees!"Mother then rushed forward, pointing at me and shouting until her voice cracked, "Val only went with Her Highness to try out the horses! How dare you harm him! Will you only be happy when you see him dead?"I stood where I was, my back ramrod straight.Then, Valerian, pale-faced, was helped in by Eleanor. "Mother, don't say that about Luke. He just couldn't bear to part with that horse, so he lost his head for a moment."Eleanor's gaze swept across the blood covering my face, and she paused for an instant. But Valerian coughed lightly, and she immediately lowered her head and asked worriedly, "Are you still feeling unwell?"Mother was heartbroken. When she looked at me again, only loathing remained in her eyes. Then, she barked at the servants, "What are you still standi

After taking the pill, I could still hear the voices around me. It was just that my limbs had gone rigid, my eyelids felt heavy, and I couldn't move even a finger.The first thing I heard was the cries of shock from the hall, then the sharp sound of a porcelain bowl shattering.For the first time, Eleanor lost her composure. "Summon the royal physician! All of you! Get him here right now!"Someone tried to persuade her in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, Mr. Lucien is already—""Shut up!" She seemed to have gone mad, holding me tightly and refusing to let go.I could feel her hands shaking.In my past life, when the palace had been set on fire, she had held me and trembled just like this too, right before I fell unconscious. Back then, my heart had ached for her. But now, all I felt was exhaustion. Mother's crying soon started, but she wasn't crying for me. "Today is Val's wedding! Why did Luke have to die at a time like this? He's deliberately trying to ruin Val!"Father bo

I looked down at the betrothal agreement in Annette's hand. It was still the same one from three years ago. The pages were yellowed, the corners worn, but it had been kept very well.I reached out and took it, then solemnly wrote my name on it—Lucien Ashford.The day Annette and I married, snow fell over the northern borderlands all night. There was no lavish fanfare, nor did we have our family with us. We only said our wedding vows, exchanged rings, and received well-wishes from the soldiers stationed at the border.Annette slipped Grandmother's old silver ring on my finger. It was the only thing I had brought with me from Alderwyn, because everything else had been carried off to Valerian's courtyard. But at that moment, I suddenly didn't care anymore.They could take away all my valuables, but no one could ever take away the riding and archery skills Grandfather taught me, nor the love Grandmother had given me.After our simple wedding ceremony was over, Annette held my hand fir

I looked away. "You don't need to tell me your wrongdoings."Things soon changed in Alderwyn after that.The Royal Ecclesiastical Court tried the case for three days. The servants around Valerian, the bribed physician, the woman who had given false testimony for him—all confessed one after another.The Ashford family had embezzled the general's property, forced their son to become a male consort, used his blood for medicine, and caused a death on the princess' wedding day. Every single charge became known throughout the city.Father was stripped of his office and thrown into prison. Mother cried and begged outside the palace day after day, but no one paid her any attention.Valerian was stripped of the title of prince consort-to-be and banished to the family chapel for life, never to leave.As for Eleanor, the king was furious and rebuked her for poor judgment of character and for moral failings. She was sentenced to six months of reflection within the palace grounds.Apology le