Chapter 4
I stared at Seraphina, watching her smug little smile as she lovingly caressed the gentle swell of her belly.
It felt like a thousand needles piercing my heart all at once. So all those children I lost sacrificed… for hers.
all those little lives that never got to see this world-
–
they were
Sebastian had always wanted a son. But not just any son. It had to be hers. It had to be Seraphina’s.
“Grace?” Sebastian’s voice was uncertain, maybe even guilty.
“If you don’t want to… we can forget it.”
“All right,” I spoke softly.
“You agree?!” His face lit up like the sun had finally broken through storm clouds.
He reached for me, overflowing with joy but I stepped aside, just enough that he wouldn’t notice it was intentional.
Before he could think too much about my distance, I beat him to it.
“The child can’t be born without name or standing. Summon the house council tomorrow to make it official.”
By then, I would be gone anyway.
“Of course!” Sebastian beamed and happily helped Seraphina to her feet.
They left, his hands steady at her waist.
I returned quietly to my chambers.
There, I gathered every gift Sebastian had ever given me saint’s medal he’d received after walking barefoot up the cathedral steps in penance,
the mother–of–pearl hairpin he gifted me on our wedding night,
the miniature portrait he painted and had framed in a silver locket The flames devoured every trace of our past.
and tossed them all into the fire.
The only things I couldn’t bear to burn were the baby’s keepsakes I’d stitched with my own hands.
the
tiny christening gown,
the baptismal cross, and the embroidered baby booties
I hesitated for a long time, then gently folded them up and placed them in a chest.
I wanted to keep something.
Just to prove that this child had existed.
But night had barely fallen when Sebastian brought Seraphina into my room.
“Grace, where’s the baby stuff you prepared?”
“You don’t have a child anymore, and it’s a waste to let them sit unused. We s
should
give them to her baby instead.”
I froze.
He reached over, pried the bundle from my arms, and handed it all to Se
And just like that, the last things that belonged to me were gone.
Maybe I was quiet too long, because Sebastian suddenly looked unsure.
“Grace, aren’t you happy?”
I shook
Smiled.
my head.
And before I could stop it, the tears fell.
Panic flared across his face as he clumsily tried to wipe them away.
1 just laughed and said, “I’m too happy, that’s all. Sebastian, could you do me a favor and fetch me that pastry I like?”
It was late.
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And that pastry
—
a spiced apple tart from a tiny bakery on the far west outskirts of town
was probably impossible to find at this hour.
But I wasn’t looking for pastry.
I just wanted him gone.
Sebastian gave a helpless smile.
“You… Always so picky. Wait here. Whatever you want, I’ll find it.”
And he did.
He actually left the estate in the dead of night and rode off to the outskirts.
Jealousy flickered in Seraphina’s eyes.
The next second, she ripped the embroidered baby booties in half.
“My baby’s noble,” she sneered. “You really think I’d let him wear clothes soaked in the curse of nine dead children?”
I didn’t answer.
She smiled sweetly and leaned in close.
“Lady Grace… you really wanted a child of your own, didn’t you?”
Yes. Once, I did.
In this world that didn’t belong to me, Sebastian had been the only person I clung to.
So I had desperately wished for a child with his blood and mine
someone to be my anchor.
Someone to matter when everything else fell away.
But now… I had nothing left.
Seraphina, seeing the blank look in my eyes, gave a cruel little smirk.
“You probably don’t know, do you?” she whispered. “Sebastian never wanted your baby. All that medicine he gave you to ‘protect‘ the pregnancy? It was
laced with abortive herbs.”
“All nine of your children,” she said slowly, savoring every word, “were killed by their own father.”
I thought it would hurt.
But in that moment, all I felt was cold and empty.
She smiled triumphantly.
“Once I give birth to this child, Sebastian will be mine forever.”
I didn’t argue. I just watched her walk away with her victory smile.
At dawn, I rose quietly and gathered the rest of my belongings.
–
ones who’d served me for years.
Instead of summoning the servants, I called for the housemaids and kitchen girls –
One by one, they entered my solar with cautious curiosity.
They were surprised to see me up and dressed so early.
I smiled, pressing a bundle or trinket into each of their hands.
“I’ll be leaving soon,” I told them gently. “Consider these parting gifts.”
They exchanged glances, mistaking my words for something else entirely.
“You’re returning to your father’s manor, my lady?” one asked hopefully.
I smiled, but said nothing.
They congratulated me.
But then, behind me–a cold voice cut through the morning air.
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–
was a cloth–wrapped bundle.
“Where are you going?”
Sebastian.
His coat was damp with dew, his boots muddy from the ride, and in his hands held tightly to his chest
He had burned himself keeping it warm.
When he unwrapped it, steam still rose from the crushed, half–ruined pastry inside.
He stared at me, eyes dark with something I couldn’t quite name.
“Where are you going?” he asked again.
He knew it. He knew that I had no family. No home to return to in this world and he was all I had ever known.
He clutched my hand, desperate.
“Grace… You promised. You said you’d never leave me.”
And just then-[Host, the return portal has opened. Countdown: 60 seconds.]
