Chapter 10
I tried to lift my arm. My right shoulder remained lifeless, but my left hand–the one that hadn’t been nailed down–seemed to stir as if waking.
Lord Cedric kept repeating, “My lord, High Priestess Selene, the war is turning in our favor!”
The binding curse placed by General Stanton required a very specific method to break. The one who sought to undo it had to carve a protective sigil onto a stone slab, then use their own blood to fill the grooves. Once the blood overflowed and dripped from the bottom edge, the curse would be lifted instantly.
I spent two days carving the sigll and then used my own blood as the key.
Sure enough, the tides of war shifted. Victory after victory echoed through the palace halls.
I wiped the blood that trickled from my nose, saying nothing.
Breaking such a curse with one’s own blood is no small price–it demands a long life.
Those fared to die young suffer the curse’s backlash on the very day their time runs out.
The king planned to grant me the title of Queen’s Consort.
He promised that when our time came, we would be laid to rest together in the royal tomb.
On the day of my coronation, a bold duke dared to protest.
“Your Majesty, think carefully! Selene was once a courtesan of the Crimson Pavilion, a lowly background unfit to sully the title of Royal Consort. It would be better to grant her the status of a maid.”
The king’s face darkened. He drew his sword and drove it through the man
Silence fell over the court. The long drew his blade again and kicked the man’s body aside,
“This is the fate of anyone who doubts Selene. The title of Royal Consort belongs to no one but her. From this day forward, I am bound to her alone–for life and beyond!”
“Let us congratulate Lady Selene.
“Congratulations, Lady Selene!”
I loopt my expression blank, watching this farce unfold.
After the ceremony, the king helped me into the chamber, his eyes burning with longing.
“Selene, imagine if you gave me a daughter–she’d be just like you.”
I laughed bitterly. “Oh sure, I’ve got all the time in the world. How many do you want? I’ll have as many as you ask.”
He froze, his eyes bloodshor
News of victories at the front kept coming; no
no one expected any trouble,
The king devoted himself more and more to court affairs, pe guilt.
, perhaps because he knew I wouldn’t live long. He avoided my presence, his gaze tinged with
How laughable. Only as the war drew to a close did he realize I was dying
After becoming the Lady Selene, I finally collected Daisy’s belongings and, while daylight lasted, held a simple memorial ceremony for her.
The flames swallowed every last thing she left behind.
Everyone had forgotten Daisy existed.
Except me.
The next morning, a maid helped me to my leet. After only a few steps, I collapsed, blood pouring from my nose and mouth
The mald panicked. “Quick! Summon the healers!”
I stopped her, pressing my hands against the blood flooding my nose.
So soon, Dalsy have you come for me?
That same day, the war turned disastrous.
When news arrived that the Marshal had been beheaded, the king rushed to my side and gripped my shoulder tightly.
“Selene! What’s going on? Wasn’t the binding curse broken? How could this happen?”
I pressed against the hot blood trickling down my face and smiled wildly.
I told him the truth: to break the curse requires someone destined to live long–and my time was up. The backlash was inevitable.
The kingdom was doomed.
I expected anger, maybe a sword thrust
But he just stared at me for a long moment, then his tension slipped away. He slumped in
“Maybe it’s for the best. I owe you everything. This is the price I pay.”
into the throne chair, aged by ten years in an instant.
“I just wish for one more lifetime. Then I’ll let you go. You were born free–don’t let me be the one to hold you back again.”
With momentum on his side, William Stanton, once General Stanton, broke through the city defenses.
The palace was already in chaos, people fleeing in every direction.
I seemed to catch a final spark of life–changed into white robes and stood in the snow.
