My moods began to swing erratically.
I deliberately showed a slight attachment to the past, and Alaric took out memory after memory, hoping to move me with our old feelings.
He took me to gather lily pads.
Just a moment ago, I had been happily telling him how, in the past, I had been so greedy trying to pick lily pads that I nearly emptied the whole pond, and even capsized the boat.
Of course, I fell in, struggling to climb out with a lily pad on my head, and ended up with nothing.
Marie laughed along with me, calling me foolish.
“You’re always like this so reckless with your affection for me.”
My smile faded
“yeah, I’m foolish. That’s why no one takes me seriously. Do you know, Alaris, I’ve been foolish for you, and 1 thought it gave me some sense of accomplishment. Doesn’t that feel pathetic to you?
His smile froze on his face.
I said, “Jump,”
He stared at me for a long
g moment, a painful smile tugging at his lips.
“Sera, it’s my fault. Let me atone for it. I’ll pay for each of my wrongs. He jumped into the water
Π
He said he would endure the pain I had suffered, if only to see me smile
Alaric stayed in the water for over half an hour, and that night, he fell ill with a fever.
I left him alone for a few days, then visited him with a bowl of corn porridge, pretending to be moved.
I told him not to hurt himself anymore, or 1 would feel sorry for him.
I gave him a bowl corn porridge, creating the illusion that his little acts of self–sacrifice could win my heart back.
He probably believed that his suffering would heal the hurt he had caused me
He made himself believe that the more he hurt, the more I would solten,
From then on, whenever I wasn’t happy, didn’t take my medicine, or couldn’t eg, he would take it upon himself to inflict pain
And I would take a few tears show him a weak smile for a few days, and he would think it was all worth it.
kept confirming with him “Alaric, do you love or that much? Can you not live without me?
And soon, he kept repeating: “Sera, I can’t live without you
It seemed like he truly convinced himself, believing he was a deep and devoted lover.
He obeyed in every word, indulging me endlessly.
It was summer, hot and stilling, but the physicians told me not to get too cold, so there was little e in my chamber.
Alaric sat beside me, drenched in sweat, tanning me to sleep,
Someone came and d quietly told him, “Your Majesty, Lady Vivierme requests to see you!
Alaric looked at me with nervous eyes, thou waved impatiently, dismissing the visitor.
I appeared calm on the outside, but my mails were nearly digging into my palms,
My poor memory almost made me forget about her.
I chose the busiest time for Alaric and took Vivienne to the wilderness on the outskirts of the kingdom.
It was a haunted place, full of eerie, ghostly cat calls.
I untied the cloth around her legs, exposing her unticaled Besh
