Chapter 5
“What if I refuse?” Lena stared coldly at Flora.
Flora’s expression changed instantly. Her eyes darkened as she stepped closer and closer to Lena. “Then don’t blame me for being rude.”
Before Lena could react, Flora suddenly shoved her into the lake!
Icy water rushed into her nose and mouth. Lena struggled to surface. “Flora! Murdering a princess is a serious crime that leads to the gallows! But Flora crouched by the shore, reached out, and pushed Lena’s head down hard into the water. “If no one knows, who’s going to find out?”
The rippling water blurred Lena’s vision. She thrashed desperately, but Flora’s strength overpowered her.
Just as her consciousness began to fade, footsteps rang out in the distance.
“H–Help…” Lena summoned every ounce of strength to cry out.
Flora’s face twisted. She quickly let go and threw herself into the lake as well. “Help! The princess fell into the water!”
”
Through her blurry vision, Lena saw Ethan rushing toward them. Without hesitation, he dove in and swam straight to Flora, pulling her into his arms.
“Ethan…” Flora leaned weakly against his chest. “Forget about me… save the princess… she’s far too precious…”
Ethan held her tightly, his voice filled with worry and tenderness. “What do you mean precious? You’re the one I treasure most.”
As the lake water flooded her lungs, Lena finally lost consciousness.
“The princess! The princess is awake!”
Lena opened her eyes to see Alice’s tear–streaked face hovering above her.
The young maid burst into even louder sobs the moment she saw her awaken. “It’s all my fault–I never should have left
The memories from before she fainted rushed back, piercing through her heart.
She forced herself upright, but immediately noticed Alice’s uneasy expression. “What is it?”
Alice sniffled and shook her head. “N–Nothing…”
Lena frowned. “Tell me the truth.”
Alice finally broke down, weeping. “The Earl Sterling… he came by just now…”
Lena’s brows furrowed. She didn’t believe Ethan would come to see her.
4
you
alone…”
Sure enough, Alice choked out, “He said… he said the princess should stop using such lowly tricks. That harming Miss Vivian again and again would only make him hate you more…“!
“I tried so hard to explain. I told him you would never do such a thing. But he only believed Miss Vivian. Said she would never lie…”
“I just can’t stand it! All these years–you searched rare books for him, embroidered handkerchiefs by candlelight, even nursed him when he was ill… And what does he do? He won’t even spare you a second glance!”
In the past, Lena would have trembled with rage.
But now, all she felt was exhaustion.
She reached out and gently wiped Alice’s tears. “Don’t cry.”
“Soon, he’ll have nothing more to do with me.”
Alice froze. “Princess, what do you mean? Isn’t the Earl Sterling supposed to move into your castle after the wedding?”
Lena didn’t explain that her future husband wasn’t Ethan. She only said softly, “You’ll know soon enough.”
In the days that followed, Lena remained at the castle, quietly listening to the ever–growing rumors of Ethan’s unrestrained affection for Flora.
He took her to every jewelry salon in Asteria, even bidding on an extremely rare blue diamond for her. At the Royal Opera House, he placed a family heirloom tiara on her head in full view of the golden box seats. He even refused to attend a royal banquet simply because Flora had come down with rose fever that day–he insisted on staying by her side at the castle to care for her.
Chapter 5
Everyone could see that Ethan was making a public statement: he had no intention of being Lena’s husband.
And yet Lena remained silent.
Not until the royal hunting expedition–an event mandatory for the court and nobility–did she finally leave the castle.
As she stepped out of the carriage, she saw Ethan helping Flora onto a horse. He stood behind her, arms around her waist, guiding her hands on the reins.
The sunlight bathed them in a golden glow, making them look like a perfect couple.
For a moment, Lena was reminded of a distant memory–beneath the apple trees in Slivershade, where they had once embraced and kissed.
She turned her head away and pretended not to see.
“Lena!” The king waved to her. “The woods are full of wild beasts during the hunt. You’re far too precious to go without protection.”
He looked around. “Where are the four earls?”
Ethan, Lucian, and Alexander rode over, but Linden was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Linden?” the king asked with a frown.
Lucian laughed. “Have you forgotten, Your Majesty? Linden went off on a trip.”
“Outrageous!” The king’s beard bristled with anger. “At a time like this? Doesn’t he realize Lena is about to be married?”
Alexander chimed in, “It doesn’t matter whether Linden’s here or not. The princess would never choose him anyway.”
The king glared. “Why not? Lena clearly-”
“Father!” Lena interrupted quickly. “It’s time we entered the hunting grounds.”
