Chapter 3
Sienna is pregnant too.
Golden morning light spilled through the window.
My hand drifted to my stomach.
"No one will ever hurt you, my baby." I whispered.
My child deserved a better father than the man I had married.
I looked at it for a long moment before returning the book to its place.
Then I returned to my room, picked up the carved wooden box, and handed it to Dominic's aide.
"Deliver this to His Grace," I said. "Tell him not to open it until seven days have passed."
Before the afternoon bells had finished ringing, his letter arrived.
My dearest Elena,
A gift from you is worth waiting for.
I will return home before nightfall.
For the next few days, Dominic spent most of his time at court.
I used the seven days to pack my belongings and secure my coin.
On the morning I was to leave, I woke up to find Dominic standing by the bed, holding my personal ledger.
"Elena," he said quietly, "I was told your name has been removed from the convent records."
His eyes searched mine.
"Why?"
My heart skipped a beat. I quietly closed the ledger and locked it inside the drawer.
"It was nothing," I said calmly. "Only an old debt that has finally been repaid."
Dominic relaxed and pulled me into his arms.
"Elena..."
I didn't respond. I got up to wash up.
When I came out, Dominic was hurrying to the courtyard.
I followed him. I froze at the stone arches.
Sienna was standing near the gate.
Dominic's face turned lethal. He grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Are you crazy? I told you not to show up here when Elena is home!"
Sienna’s eyes reddened. "My Lord, I can't be away from you, and neither can the baby."
She pulled his hand to her stomach. Dominic pulled his hand back.
"Don't be ridiculous. Go wait in the carriage. I'll come see you tonight, my beauty."
Sienna cried and whispered something frantically into his ear.
Panic flashed across Dominic's eyes.
He sighed. "Fine. I'll stay with you today. Go to the carriage."
I retreated inside before he could see me.
A moment later, Dominic came into the bedroom.
"Elena, something urgent has come up at the palace. I have to go."
Dominic froze, swallowing hard.
I smiled faintly. "Go. The palace comes first."
Dominic breathed a sigh of relief, touched my cheek, and left.
Soon, the sound of horse hooves disappeared completely.
I wiped away my tears and rested a hand over my stomach.
"I'll keep you safe."
Then, I fed his letter to the fire, and walked out.
Ten minutes later, Dominic tore into the castle.
He bounded up the stairs, eager to call out. "Elena? Are you here?"
Silence.
Panic clawed at his throat.
He stormed into his study. There, on his desk, was the carved box.
Dominic tore the lid off.
Inside lay the midwife's note and beneath it, the signed petition for annulment.
Dominic’s vision went entirely black.
He slammed his fists down, shattering the desk into splinters.
"Find her!"
He turned to the captain of the guard.
"Seal every city gate. Search every road, every inn, every village."
His voice broke.
"Bring my wife back!"
An hour later, the carriage reached the border between the Blackthorn Kingdom and the Ashen Kingdom.
"Just a little farther," the coachman murmured.
"Stop that carriage!"
A shout rang out behind them.
The coach came to a sharp halt.
"My lady..." the coachman whispered.
I slowly drew back the curtain.
I recognized him at once. He was the soldier who had suggested the Knight's Wager.