Chapter 7
Seraphine had slept for two full days.
When she awoke, the sound of festive music reached her ears
For a moment, she felt disoriented, but then she remembered: today was the wedding of Lucien and Vivienne.
It was also the day she would leave.
“Miss, you’re awake?” the young maid entered, holding a bowl of medicine in her hands. “Prince Valmont has ordered you to rest well, and he’ll come to see you tomorrow.”
“No need,” Seraphine said, pushing herself up, wincing as a sharp pain shot through her chest. Her white bandages were stained with blood. “I have urgent matters.”
The maid hesitated but Seraphine had already dressed and walked out of the room.
She moved slowly, each step sending a wave of excruciating pain through her chest.
The heart’s blood had nearly taken her life,
it
dn’t matter. Once today was over, it would all be finished.
Inside the gauntlet’s Forge, the leader stared at Seraphine, who was pale and frail, his brow furrowed. “Are you sure about this? The Judas Cradle is unbearable. Your body…it’s in no condition for this.”
“I’m sure,” Seraphine replied calmly, untying her outer robe. “I must leave today.”
The leader sighed, signaling for the instruments to be brought forward.
A three–meter–long iron board was laid out, each nail glinting with a cold, lethal shine ppl wh
Seraphine removed her robe, revealing the bandages wrapped tightly around her torso She took a deep breath and lay down on the iron board.
“Start.”
At the command, two gauntlet members pulled the ropes, and the board began to roll.
“Aah-!”
Sharp nails pierced her flesh, and Seraphine bit down hard on her lip, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.
Once, twice, three times…
Every inch of her skin was shredded by the nails, the searing pain sweeping over her like a tidal wave.
From afar, the sound of festive music floated in the air, signaling the procession of the wedding party at Valmont Keep.
Seraphine rolled through the first round, her back torn to pieces.
In the second round, the nails pierced her arms, blood dripping from her fingertips.
In the third round, her legs were also pierced, her body becoming a map of wounds.
Her consciousness began to fade, but strangely, with each wave of pain, her heart hurt less.
It felt…right.
She thought, perhaps she had truly let go.
“Wedding complete–you can kiss each other!”
After the final round, Seraphine was nothing more than a bloodied shell.
The leader hastily ordered her to be removed, turning away, unable to watch. “Rest for a day, at least. How can you travel in this state?”
“No need,” Seraphine forced herself to stand, “I won’t trouble His Highness on his wedding day.”
With her broken body, she limped out of the gauntlet’s Forge, leaving a trail of bloody footprints with each step.
When she pushed open the doors, the sunlight bathed her face, and for the first time, she felt a sense of freedom she had never known before.
In the distance, Lucien was carrying Vivienne across the salt hearth.
For some unknown reason, he turned around, as if he had seen a familiar figure moving against the flow of the crowd.
Chapter 7
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Could it have been Seraphine?
She should still be recovering, shouldn’t she…?
“Lucien?” Vivienne giggled, tugging at his arm. “Why are you spacing out?”
Lucien shook himself from his thoughts and smiled gently. “Nothing.”
He bent down, lifted Vivienne in his arms, and, amid the cheers, carried her into the room.
Seraphine glanced back one last time.
Under the sunlight, Lucien holding Vivienne was a sight so perfect it almost burned her eyes.
She swung herself onto her horse, not once turning back as she rode out of the capital.
Chapter 7
