Chapter 1 · Checkmate, My Prince

After the divorce, my heart felt numb, as if all emotions had faded away.

For three years, I paved the way for him, helped him climb to the top, spent every penny I had, and poured out my heart and soul. Yet, all I got in return was his cold words. "She's pregnant. Step aside."

I calmly signed the divorce papers and handed him a list. "Your Highness, please return my lavish bridal gifts, the vast estates in Linemell, and the imperial pardon token bestowed by the late king."

He froze, clearly caught off guard by how decisive I was. He stared at me in disbelief. "You're giving up the young heir?"

I smiled. "Your Highness, didn't you make me drink that abortion medicine three years ago? Where do you think this child comes from? Surely you know."

*****

Simon Giffard pushed a bowl of tonic for stabilizing the pregnancy toward Hilda Montfort.

His voice was restrained, carrying a deliberate gentleness. "Hilda, go ahead and drink it."

Hilda's face was pale, her eyes red from crying as she glanced at me timidly. Her gaze was filled with fear and a touch of triumph.

I ignored her and focused on Simon.

Today, he wore a dark velvet doublet embroidered with golden lions, the very design I had sketched for him myself three years ago.

Back then, he was just a prince nobody cared about. He didn't even have proper clothes for palace banquets.

Now, Simon held sway over the court, just one step away from the throne.

At last, he uttered those words to me. "She's pregnant. It's time for you to step aside."

His tone was so calm, as if he were just reciting some impersonal fact.

I nodded.

I took out a letter I'd kept hidden in my sleeve. It was the divorce papers.

I signed it and stamped it with my thumbprint.

Then, I pushed it toward him and said, "Fine."

Simon was surprised. He must've pictured a hundred different reactions. He thought I might cry, throw a tantrum, and demand why he'd betray me.

However, he didn't expect I would be calm, showing no emotion.

His brows furrowed, that familiar impatient look crossing his face again. "Celina, don't play games with me."

I smiled. Then, I slipped a list from my sleeve and placed it beside the divorce papers.

I said, "Your Highness, you're being too serious. Since we're parting ways, please return the items I brought as my wedding gift."

I tapped my finger on the list. "The grand bridal procession, 128 in all, with a full list of items. 700 hectares of prime farmland in Linemell, with all the deeds in my possession. And the imperial pardon token, bestowed by the late king, King Geoffrey."

Simon's face instantly darkened.

The wedding gifts and farmland were just regular things. But that imperial pardon token was a game-changer.

It stood for the Howell family's military might, the force backing me.

And it was his biggest leverage and the reason he climbed so far, so fast.

Simon stared at me, stunned, his eyes full of disbelief.

He demanded, "Have you lost your mind? Celina, we've been together for three years. Are you really going to end it so coldly?"

I looked at him and couldn't help but find it ironic.

After being married for three years, he finally remembered that we were married.

"Your Highness, you were the one who cast me aside first," I said. My words caught him off guard, leaving him speechless and his face turning red with frustration.

Right on cue, Hilda let out a soft sob. "Celina, please don't blame His Highness. It's all my fault. If you really can't stand me, I'll just leave. It's better if I go than to cause any discord between you and His Highness."

As she spoke, she tried to stand up, her posture limp and frail, as if she had no strength left in her body.

Simon instantly reached out to steady her, his gaze filled with tender concern.

"You're pregnant. Don't be reckless," he said softly.

Then he turned to me, his eyes full of reproach. "Look at Hilda. She's always so kind. Celina, why can't you learn to be as gracious as she is?"

My smirk only deepened, and it seemed to hit a nerve with Simon.

He stared at me and blurted out, "You're really giving up the little prince?"

He thought this was my last card, the final trick I'd use to make him stay.

I burst out laughing. "Your Highness, didn't you force me to drink that miscarriage potion three years ago? Where do you think this child could possibly come from? Surely you know, right?"

I watched his face turn deathly pale at my words. I felt satisfied.

Simon thought I was just talking about how he made me barren. But he had no idea there was a secret behind it, one that would make sure he never rose again.

The air seemed to freeze.

Simon's face drained of color, bit by bit. His hand holding the pregnancy tonic started to shake uncontrollably.

Hilda froze, her whole body stiffening.

I stood up, calmly straightening my sleeves, every move composed and unhurried.

I said, "I'll give you three days to check everything on the list. After that, I'll send my men to pick it all up. Your Highness, I hope you won't give me any trouble."

Without another word, I turned and walked out without a second thought.

Behind me, the sharp crash of porcelain shattering cut through the silence.

I returned to my old courtyard, Rosy Garden.

Chapter 1

After the divorce, my heart felt numb, as if all emotions had faded away.

I calmly signed the divorce papers and handed him a list. "Your Highness, please return my lavish bridal gifts, the vast estates in Linemell, and the imperial pardon token bestowed by the late king."

He froze, clearly caught off guard by how decisive I was. He stared at me in disbelief. "You're giving up the young heir?"

I smiled. "Your Highness, didn't you make me drink that abortion medicine three years ago? Where do you think this child comes from? Surely you know."

*****

Simon Giffard pushed a bowl of tonic for stabilizing the pregnancy toward Hilda Montfort.

His voice was restrained, carrying a deliberate gentleness. "Hilda, go ahead and drink it."

Hilda's face was pale, her eyes red from crying as she glanced at me timidly. Her gaze was filled with fear and a touch of triumph.

I ignored her and focused on Simon.

Today, he wore a dark velvet doublet embroidered with golden lions, the very design I had sketched for him myself three years ago.

Back then, he was just a prince nobody cared about. He didn't even have proper clothes for palace banquets.

Now, Simon held sway over the court, just one step away from the throne.

At last, he uttered those words to me. "She's pregnant. It's time for you to step aside."

His tone was so calm, as if he were just reciting some impersonal fact.

I nodded.

I took out a letter I'd kept hidden in my sleeve. It was the divorce papers.

I signed it and stamped it with my thumbprint.

Then, I pushed it toward him and said, "Fine."

Simon was surprised. He must've pictured a hundred different reactions. He thought I might cry, throw a tantrum, and demand why he'd betray me.

However, he didn't expect I would be calm, showing no emotion.

His brows furrowed, that familiar impatient look crossing his face again. "Celina, don't play games with me."

I smiled. Then, I slipped a list from my sleeve and placed it beside the divorce papers.

I said, "Your Highness, you're being too serious. Since we're parting ways, please return the items I brought as my wedding gift."

Simon's face instantly darkened.

The wedding gifts and farmland were just regular things. But that imperial pardon token was a game-changer.

It stood for the Howell family's military might, the force backing me.

And it was his biggest leverage and the reason he climbed so far, so fast.

Simon stared at me, stunned, his eyes full of disbelief.

He demanded, "Have you lost your mind? Celina, we've been together for three years. Are you really going to end it so coldly?"

I looked at him and couldn't help but find it ironic.

After being married for three years, he finally remembered that we were married.

"Your Highness, you were the one who cast me aside first," I said. My words caught him off guard, leaving him speechless and his face turning red with frustration.

As she spoke, she tried to stand up, her posture limp and frail, as if she had no strength left in her body.

Simon instantly reached out to steady her, his gaze filled with tender concern.

"You're pregnant. Don't be reckless," he said softly.

Then he turned to me, his eyes full of reproach. "Look at Hilda. She's always so kind. Celina, why can't you learn to be as gracious as she is?"

My smirk only deepened, and it seemed to hit a nerve with Simon.

He stared at me and blurted out, "You're really giving up the little prince?"

He thought this was my last card, the final trick I'd use to make him stay.

I burst out laughing. "Your Highness, didn't you force me to drink that miscarriage potion three years ago? Where do you think this child could possibly come from? Surely you know, right?"

I watched his face turn deathly pale at my words. I felt satisfied.

Simon thought I was just talking about how he made me barren. But he had no idea there was a secret behind it, one that would make sure he never rose again.

The air seemed to freeze.

Simon's face drained of color, bit by bit. His hand holding the pregnancy tonic started to shake uncontrollably.

Hilda froze, her whole body stiffening.

I stood up, calmly straightening my sleeves, every move composed and unhurried.

I said, "I'll give you three days to check everything on the list. After that, I'll send my men to pick it all up. Your Highness, I hope you won't give me any trouble."

Without another word, I turned and walked out without a second thought.

Behind me, the sharp crash of porcelain shattering cut through the silence.

I returned to my old courtyard, Rosy Garden.