Chapter 4
The day the written demand arrived at the Wainwright residence, the sky was heavy and dark, like ink spreading across the clouds.
Word was out from Sunstone Palace: the Crown Prince's Concubine had been decided.
Cordelia moved into the side chamber of the Sunstone Palace, just like she always wanted.
The whole of Veloren was buzzing: Evander's only requirement for his main concubine was that she had to accept Cordelia and promise to keep her safe and comfortable for the rest of her life.
What devotion!
I sat quietly in the carriage.
Rumors floated in through the window.
My fingers absentmindedly traced an old pattern on my sleeve.
Those were the patterns I'd stayed up all night stitching in my last life, eyes red from exhaustion, just to match Evander's everyday clothes.
On that Emberfest night in my previous life, the fire raged so fiercely it seemed to shatter the heavens.
I was trapped high up in the tower.
I was clutching my just-turned-three-year-old son tight in my arms, shielding him as best I could.
I screamed Evander's name until my throat was raw.
But Evander, lost in the thick smoke, didn't hesitate; he picked up Cordelia, who was sitting there with a twisted ankle, and carried her away.
He never even looked back.
The stench of burning flesh mixed with my child's weak cries.
Together, they became a nightmare I could never escape.
With every word Evander pledged to Cordelia, the last shred of obsession I had for him crumbled away, bit by bit.
I looked down.
Seeing the crescent-shaped red marks pressed into my palm, all I felt was relief.
"Miss, we've arrived at the Havenwood Orphanage."
Elara's voice called out, snapping me out of my thoughts.
She lifted the curtain, her brows drawn together with worry.
I gathered up my skirts and stepped out of the carriage.
The wind outside the city whipped up dust, making my eyes water.
The tent was already set up.
The thick, savory scent of barley pottage rolled up from the great iron cauldron.
The refugees, huddled and shivering, held out their chipped, worn bowls.
I pushed up my sleeves and grabbed the heavy ladle.
With swift, practiced motions, I started serving pottage.
One scoop, then another.
Steam fogged up my eyes, but for once, I felt calm inside.
An opulent carriage rolled to a stop not far from the tent.
The tassels swayed, radiating an air of noble elegance.
It was Ysabel Vane and her usual clique of noblewomen, the ones who always made things difficult for me.
"Well, well, if it isn't Calista, Veloren's number one talented lady," Ysabel called out.
She pushed open the carriage window, deliberately raising her voice for everyone to hear.
Her tone was full of scorn.
"What, failed to get into the Sunstone Palace, so now you're here among the refugees looking for trouble?" Ysabel sneered.
A soft, mocking laugh came from one of her companions.
She covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief, her eyes practically gleaming with malice.
"Oh, Ysabel, stop it; she's already miserable enough," another girl chimed in.
She let out a sigh, her voice thick with mockery as she idly played with the lacquer on her nails.
"Word is, His Highness handed over every last sunken pearl the Royal Household had been hoarding for years, just so Cordelia could lay them out on the floor of her side chambers, like it was nothing," one of the girls said, her voice thick with sarcasm.
"And get this, His Highness promised that no matter who else marries into the palace, Cordelia will always be the one on top. This kind of favoritism? It's never happened before," another girl chimed in, her tone dripping with envy.
Their eyes were glued to my face.
They were desperate to spot even the tiniest crack in my composure, even the faintest trace of resentment.
My hand didn't even tremble as I ladled out the food, steady and unbothered, no matter how loud their jeers got.
Not a single drop spilled.
"Calista, stop acting all holier-than-thou," Ysabel snapped.
Her face flushed with anger when I ignored her completely.
Her tone grew even sharper, dripping with contempt.
"You ruined your needlework at the concubine selection banquet just to play coy and reel him in. Too bad, His Highness never even gave you a second thought," Ysabel sneered.
"Who would ever want a cast-off like you, so full of yourself?" she added.
I paused, my hand stilling mid-motion.
I looked up.
My cold, steady gaze met theirs head-on, unflinching.
The chill of death I brought back from surviving hell made those noblewomen freeze.
Every one of them went silent, shocked into stillness.
"Are you finished?" I said.
My voice was icy, standing out in the noisy refugee camp like a slap.
"Cordelia's favor is her own fortune; that's her business, not mine," I said.
I knocked the ladle against the rim of the cauldron.
A sharp crack echoed out.
"Whether I'm a cast-off or not is none of your concern," I said.
I turned my head, looking toward the distant end of the street.
My gaze was intense and clear, unyielding, yet utterly lucid.
"I don't care for those lofty favors from the palace. All I want is someone ordinary, someone who truly cares, who can shield me from life's storms. I'd gladly trade it all for a simple, peaceful life," I said.
"Even being with a commoner is better than getting caught up in the heartless intrigues of Sunstone Palace," I added.
The atmosphere froze.
The young ladies' laughter died awkwardly in their throats, making the moment feel almost comical.
An ominous figure emerged from behind the carriage.
The commotion was instantly crushed into silence.
The sound of his boots pounding the gravel hit like a sledgehammer.
Evander was clad in dark, regal clothes with refined needlework.
A white pendant he carried caught the cold wind, gleaming with a chill.
His cold, menacing eyes were fixed on me.
The bustling avenue fell eerily silent in an instant.
Ysabel and her companions went pale with terror.
Throwing all decorum aside, they tumbled out of the carriage and fell into a deep reverence.
"Your Highness," they called out in unison.
Evander didn't even spare them a glance.
With a menacing, suffocating presence, he closed in on me step by step.
He paused, barely a breath away from me.