From her window, Seraphina watched the guests arrive, their laughter and cheerful chatter a bitter counterpoint to the silence in her heart. Valerius stood

th white lilies, her favorite. Valerius had been so nervous, his hands trembling slightly as he took hers. That night, h

ve," he had whispered agains

washed over her. The festive music outside faded into a dull

r window. A dull ache throbbed in her head. A commotion from the hallway outside

am now? I am the lady of this house!"

ging Lady Seraphina her meal," an

hing. A disgraced woman living on my charity. And you

feet and pulled open the door. In the hallway, Isabella stood

low, malicious smile spread across her face. "Well, look who'

ator. "You know, everyone is talking. Whispering about the Lord' s first wife, the one with the

art. Seraphina stood frozen, the humil

ued, gesturing to the tearful Clara. "I have a captain in the guar

aphina' s own fear was replaced by a surge o

ve no power here anymore." She leaned in close, her voice d

d, his face flushed with wine from the celebration. He stop

d in Seraphina' s chest. He wouldn

arm. "Valerius, please. Isabella w

ug one. Then he looked down at her hand on his arm

he said, his voice slurred but his tone as c

Isabella, who took it with a triumphant smirk. "Come

g on her lips. She watched them go, the sight of his back a final, damning confirmation. S