Chapter 1
On the night I married Crown Prince, Julian Ashford, he lifted my veil in front of everyone and shoved a divorce paper in my face.
I clutched the hem of my wedding dress, my voice shaking as I asked, "Your Highness, what is this?"
Muted snickers drifted in from outside the door—his advisors, watching.
"His Highness has done all this for Ms. Whitmore," one of them whispered.
Julian turned and led someone out.
It was Lila Whitmore, my cousin, dressed in a simple white gown but wearing my mother's white sapphire pin.
She lowered her eyes, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Bethany, please don't be angry with His Highness. It's my fault—my health..."
Julian put his arm around her shoulders, his voice gentle in a way I'd never heard before.
He said, "I promised you, the crown princess' place would always be yours. Do you believe me now?"
Lila looked up, a smile spreading across her pale face, but there was a flash of smug satisfaction in her eyes.
I tried to speak, but three men suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my way.
My eldest brother, Leonard Sutton, Lord of the North, placed a firm hand on my shoulder, still wearing his battle armor.
He said, "Lila suffers from a weak heart. Only His Highness can ease her suffering. Step aside."
My second brother, Ethan Sutton, the renowned healer, put away his medical case, his eyes frosty.
"She only has three years left. You have a lifetime. Don't be selfish about a title," he said.
My third brother, Edward Sutton, the prime minister, quietly handed me a pen and ink, his voice steady.
"Just sign it. His Highness has given his word. If you let her have this, he will keep you as his mistress," he said.
Together, they pushed me toward the table, watching as I pressed my thumbprint onto the divorce agreement.
That was when the voice returned—the one gone for ten years—clear inside my mind.
The system asked, "Host, life-extension mission complete. Exit world?"
I watched the candle wax drip like tears. A laugh almost escaped me.
These 15 years of performed love were finally about to close its curtain.
*****
It went on, "Alert: Affection bonds with target brothers and Crown Prince confirmed at 95%. Primary mission: 'Marry the Crown Prince' complete. Congratulations, Host.
"Upon termination of physical form, you may return to your origin world. Rewards: full monetary payment and a new, healthy body."
I swallowed the metallic sweetness rising in my throat.
Finally, I could go home.
Leonard and Edward stayed behind at Julian's palace to keep Lila company, while Ethan was assigned to take me back to Sutton Manor.
The carriage rattled along, and Ethan sat across from me, his eyes shut, lost in his own thoughts the entire way.
It wasn't until a messenger pigeon landed on the windowsill with a letter from Lila that he finally opened his eyes. He read the note, and a soft smile crept onto his face.
When he caught me watching, he tucked the note away and frowned.
Ethan said, "Still not over it? Lila and His Highness are in love. You're the one in the way.
"She lost her mother when she was just a child, and she's been living under someone else's roof ever since. Now she doesn't have much time left. Can't you just be kind and let her have this?"
I dug my nails into my palm, the sting grounding me at that moment.
Lila did lose her mother, yes. But the rest? A lie. My mother had stayed by the side of Lila's mother for three days and nights when Lila's mother died in childbirth. In the end, my mother took Lila in and raised her in comfort and luxury.
Maybe my expression was too bleak, because Ethan sighed.
"After the wedding, you should apologize to Lila. Then we can put this behind us," he said.
He reached out to feel my pulse, but I pulled away.
"Tell me, what have I done wrong?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Ethan's hand froze mid-air, his tone suddenly icy.
"Bethany, when will you stop being so stubborn?" he said sharply.
I closed my eyes.
It'd been ten whole years.
Ever since Lila's "fragile heart" needed a cure, and they decided my blood was it, everything changed.
Every month, for three days, they took my blood. I was the healthy one. That made it my duty to keep the delicate Lila alive.
They canceled my coming-of-age ball because Lila was "too distressed."
Most of my wedding gifts ended up in her room. Whatever she liked, she took.
And now, I was expected to give up my husband to her as well.
"After Lila visits the palace to thank His Highness, you will come with us to apologize," Ethan said.
I didn't respond.
In my heart, I asked, "As long as this body dies, I can leave, right?"
The system replied, "Yes, host."
I lifted the carriage curtain.
It was late, and the road was empty.
After making sure no innocent bystanders would get hurt, I threw open the carriage door and jumped out into the night.
"Bethany!" Ethan's shout was torn apart by the wind.
As I was falling, I actually felt oddly relieved.
Then I felt a sudden grip around my waist.
Someone pulled me close, and we tumbled together, branches and rocks scraping at our clothes, the noise sharp in my ears.
When we finally stopped, I was unhurt.
Ethan, holding me, had his clothes ripped open, blood streaming down his back.
He struggled to his feet, his face ashen.
"Do you hate us this much? Enough to end your life?" he asked, his voice trembling.
I pried his fingers off my arm and stood.
"Let go," I said coldly.
There was a deep gash on his leg, so deep that the bone was showing, and his silk pants were drenched in blood.
Once, a scratch on my finger would send him searching frantically through his medicine chest.
But now, his eyes were bloodshot as he yelled at me.
"A few harsh words, and you try to kill yourself? Is this how you repay us for all we've given you?" he snapped.
I turned and looked toward the end of the road.
The sound of hoofbeats grew louder, approaching from the distance.
"Since I'm throwing myself at them, you'd better pay for the horse," I said.
With that, I rushed straight toward the oncoming riders.
"Bethany!" With Ethan's shout ringing in my ears, I closed my eyes.
The horses reared up, their hooves pawing at the air.