Chapter 4
I watched the color bleed from his face and saw the storm surge in his eyes, and beneath my ribs I felt a flicker of grim satisfaction.
So this was the pleasure of watching him suffer.
"Mia," Julian spoke my name again, and this time I caught a note of pleading he did not recognize in himself. "You must come with me."
He stepped forward, trying to loom over me, to force submission with his presence, the same trick he always used.
Once I would have bent beneath that pressure, but now I simply looked at him as if he were a pathetic performer.
"Are you ordering me, my lord?" I asked softly. "And I'm supposed to return as what?
"As your lawfully wedded wife, the one you married with all the proper ceremonies, only to cast aside like garbage?
"Or as the concubine you handed over to someone else, just to be toyed with?"
Every word I said was like a needle, stabbing straight into Julian's heart.
His face turned uglier with every word.
"Enough," he barked the word, but his voice was shaky, missing its usual commanding edge.
Meanwhile, Gareth was clearly enjoying the show.
He'd probably never seen Julian, the almighty Chancellor, look so flustered and out of sorts before.
"Mr. Thorn," Gareth called out, his tone gruff and challenging. "Looks like the gift you handed over isn't exactly well-behaved.
"Need me to teach her a lesson for you?"
Every word dripped with insult and taunt.
Julian's fists suddenly clenched.
A terrifying murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
I could see he was genuinely enraged.
He cared less about me.
But he absolutely couldn't tolerate his authority being trampled by a brute from Birtande.
Before he could explode, I spoke up, my voice calm and steady. "I'll go with you to Cirewen."
Those few words made the air in the room freeze instantly.
Julian whipped his head around to look at me, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.
He obviously never saw me changing my mind so suddenly.
I gave him a faint smile.
But that smile never reached my eyes.
I said, "But there's one condition."
"Name it," Julian answered without hesitation.
"I'm taking someone with me."
My gaze turned toward the door.
There, a thin girl was peeking in, nervously glancing around.
It was Lily.
She was the only one in this whole house who ever gave me warmth.
When I was beaten within an inch of my life, she'd secretly bring me medicine.
When I was denied meals as punishment, she'd slip me a stale biscuit.
In this ruthless place, the smallest bit of kindness was what kept me alive.
Julian followed my gaze. "A maid?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
Julian didn't hesitate. "Alright, I'll agree to that."
To him, whether a maid stayed or left meant nothing at all.
He wanted to wrap up this farce and get me out of this place that made him feel so disgraced.
He turned to Gareth, his voice once again icy and arrogant. "Mr. Ward, I'm taking her."
This wasn't up for discussion; it was simply a notice.
Gareth's face turned pale, then flushed with anger.
He knew he couldn't afford to offend the man who held all the power in the realm.
All he could do was grit his teeth and stand there, powerless, as Julian's men led Lily and me out of the manor.
I didn't look back.
There wasn't a shred of longing in me for that place.
A luxurious carriage was parked outside the manor.
It was the same as the one used for Serena three years ago.
Julian personally lifted the curtain for me.
He made a gesture, inviting me in.
His posture was unusually humble.
It felt like he was trying to make amends for something.
I didn't look at him. I stepped up onto the footstool and got into the carriage.
Lily trailed after me, looking nervous and awkward.
The curtain dropped, blocking out everything outside.
It also blocked out Gareth's hateful stare.
The carriage lurched into motion, bearing us toward Cirewen.
Inside, the air was thick with rare imported incense and perfumed oils.
That cloying luxury struck a false note against the damp rot and mold still clinging to my skin.
Julian sat across from me, saying nothing.
His gaze was fixed on my face with a complicated relief, as though he had recovered some lost possession.
Ridiculous.
What made him believe I was still his to claim?
I closed my eyes and leaned against the carriage wall, shutting him out completely.