Chapter 3The Lottery Consort

The next day was the kingdom’s annual High Rite of Ascension. My father’s health was worsening, so I had to preside, with the Four Lords at my side.

Kaelan was still furious about yesterday’s events and refused to even look at me. I couldn't be bothered with him either.

After the midday meal, I took a walk in the gardens. Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted to my ears.

“Lord Kaelan, I made these honey cakes myself. Try one.”

I followed the sound and saw Lady Seraphine, holding a small cake to Kaelan’s lips. He leaned in without hesitation and took a bite, a smile gracing his face—a smile I had never seen before. She laughed and gently wiped a crumb from the corner of his mouth. They were the very picture of devoted lovers.

I fought down a wave of nausea and was about to leave when several figures in black dropped from the trees around me.

“Who are you?” I demanded, my hand flying to the small dagger at my belt. “What do you want?”

They exchanged a glance, then charged, their blades aimed at my heart.

Though I had trained with the Four Lords, my skill was limited.

Kaelan had already noticed the commotion. “Kaelan, help me!” I cried out.

He took an instinctive step towards me, but Seraphine threw her arms around him, her voice a frightened whimper. “Kaelan, don’t go! I’m so scared!”

He hesitated.

In that single moment of hesitation, a blade sliced across my arm. The pain was so sharp it brought a cold sweat to my brow. I stared at him in disbelief. In a moment of mortal danger, he had chosen not to save me.

I gritted my teeth. “Kaelan, what are you standing there for? Save me!”

As the words left my mouth, Seraphine let out a piercing scream. “Aaaah!”

One of the assassins had broken off and was now lunging towards them.

Kaelan pushed her back, his entire focus on protecting Seraphine. He didn't see another assassin raise his sword and charge at me from the side.

I closed my eyes, bracing for the end.

But the pain never came.

My eyes flew open to see Lysander standing in front of me, his own sword having just sent the assassin’s blade flying. Gareth and Tristan arrived a second later, joining the fray.

The assassins were quickly subdued. Seeing their failure, they all turned their blades on themselves, dying in a spray of blood that splattered across my gown.

I stood frozen, a desolate chill spreading through me. I had thought that even if Kaelan didn’t love me, the bond of our shared childhood still meant something. But at the moment of truth, for Seraphine, he had left me to die.

Gareth and Tristan had seen it all. Their expressions, when they looked at Kaelan, were complicated.

My father was informed and ordered a full investigation. The House of Xie was too powerful to move against directly, but the King’s anger needed an outlet. He ordered Lady Seraphine to be confined to her family’s estate.

That night, Kaelan stormed into my chambers, his face a mask of fury. “Aurelia, this had nothing to do with Seraphine. Why did you do it? This is nothing but petty revenge!”

He actually believed I was behind her punishment.

I looked at him, my voice as cold as ice. “Kaelan, do you have any idea how close I came to dying today?”

He was unmoved. “But you’re fine, aren’t you?”

“Besides,” he continued, “you are the Princess. You have countless guards to protect you. Seraphine only has me. You saw what happened today—she was nearly killed by those assassins as well. She is a victim too.”

“Go to the King. Beg him to lift her confinement.”

I clutched my wounded arm, the pain a dull throb. “Impossible.”

My refusal sent him into a rage, his chest heaving. “And you call yourself a princess! You can’t even tell right from wrong! You are utterly unreasonable!”

He spun on his heel and stormed out.

He did not come to the palace for the next two days. He only returned, reluctantly, on the third day—the day the royal decree was to be announced.