Chapter 2

Before that royal decree, life on Forsaken Peak was brutal, but because I fought back so fiercely, I managed to keep them at bay.

Back then, I held onto hope like a lifeline. I kept telling myself that Edmund would remember our bond and that he would uncover his cousin's lies and bring me home.

I was so painfully naive.

The moment that decree dropped, my final shield shattered.

How could I possibly fight off hundreds of beast slaves?

I was tossed around like a broken ragdoll. My body was an endless canvas of purple and black bruises, and I constantly coughed up blood.

But even that wasn't enough for them. They would shove their filthy boots into my face, forcing me to lick them clean. The flawless beauty I had once been so proud of was battered until my face was swollen and unrecognizable.

Only when I looked like a pathetic monster bleeding in the mud would they finally leave me alone, fully satisfied.

At first, I felt a burning sense of injustice. Then, I just went numb. I went from swearing I would rather die than submit to hollowly whispering empty threats that made everyone laugh.

"You'll pay for this. His Majesty will get justice for me.

"He's going to kill every last one of you. I'm his queen. He's coming back for me.

"He'll kill you... he has to..."

One of the beast slaves just scoffed, yanking up his pants.

"Stop dreaming, sweetheart. You aren't the queen anymore.

"His Majesty's got someone else in his bed. If he gave a damn about you, he wouldn't have dumped you on this rock."

"He was tricked!" I snapped back, my voice cracking. "When he finds out the truth, he'll come for me!"

The slave barked a harsh laugh.

"It's been three years! You're telling me your almighty King hasn't figured out the 'truth' yet? Don't give me that crap about him being too busy with royal duties."

Something snapped in the dark corners of my mind. For the first time, breaking my usual stony silence, I spat back a retort that bit like ice.

"He was manipulated! But he still cares about me," I insisted, desperation leaking into my voice. "The second he remembers me, you're all dead meat."

Looking at me like I was the most pathetic thing he had ever seen, he undid his belt again.

"Serena, I actually pity you. You Elves have magic, beauty, and everything, and yet you're practically begging for the love of a human man? It's the biggest joke I've ever heard.

"Look at you now. You look utterly vile. You've truly hit rock bottom, haven't you?

"You think he's gonna regret this? Trust me, the only thing he regrets is not treating you like garbage sooner!"

"No! No, that's not true," I gasped, the words barely clawing their way out of my throat. "He loves me. I know he does!

"He's been deceived. Once he remembers who I am, he'll come for me. He'll come to take me home!"

Before I could finish, he shoved his filthy boot straight into my mouth.

"A magical sea elf whines about love? You're killing the mood. Even if he did love you, what good is a human's love to someone like you?"

A crowd of slaves had gathered by then, laughing at my delusions. They all made it their mission to force me to say I didn't love him anymore.

But whether they starved me, whipped me, or literally carved into my flesh, I gritted my teeth and screamed that I still loved him.

It became their favorite sick game. They would lean in and whisper that single question, "Do you still love him?"

They even placed bets. Whoever could break me first and get me to renounce Edmund would win a year off from hard labor.

Because of that, my life somehow got even worse.

After three years of pure hell, the summons finally arrived. But it wasn't to save me. It was to drag me back to Acalia so that they could drain my sacred essence to save Macey.

As soon as the royal envoy left, the slaves surrounded me. There was no longer any need for them to hide their contempt. They stared down at me with blatant scorn.

"You still love him after this? You elves really are born to grovel."

"In your next life, don't bother coming back as an elf. Please. You're nothing but a breeding sow in spirit."

"Don't insult the livestock. Even a sow in her pen knows enough to look out for her own hide."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Did I still love Edmund?

Why did the mere thought of him bring me so much agonizing pain, mixed with a twisting resentment?

I didn't answer them. I just numbly climbed into the carriage headed for Acalia. Along the way, blood-red pearls slipped from my eyes and scattered across the wooden floorboards.

When a sea elf weeps, the heavens mourn, and the tears turn to pearls.

All that was left was my hoarse, broken voice, echoing faintly into the mountain air.

"I... I still... love him."