Chapter 2

After that day, I got sick.

Nightmares haunted me day and night.

In my dreams, Luna's body was ripped apart, dripping with blood, as she looked at me and asked, "Madam, why didn't you save me?"

I couldn't eat a thing, not even drink water. Day by day, I grew thinner, until I barely recognized myself in the mirror.

I heard Isabelle was sick too.

Red spots broke out all over her body, itching so badly that she couldn't stop scratching. Her once lovely face was scratched raw.

Edward stayed by her side, not even bothering to change his clothes, and called every famous doctor he could find.

Meanwhile, my place felt cold and lifeless, like a grave.

That evening, my door was kicked open with a loud bang.

Edward burst in, a chill clinging to him, his face dark with rage.

"What did you do to Isabelle?" he roared.

I coughed, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He fisted my collar and hauled me off the bed, his eyes wild, like he was ready to rip me to shreds.

"Others might be clueless, but I know exactly what you're capable of," he spat. "Those witchcraft tricks are your specialty. I told you not to cause me any trouble."

Suddenly, I burst out laughing, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Why are you so sure it was me? Ever think maybe Isabelle cooked up this drama herself, just to win your sympathy?" I shot back.

Edward's rage flared even hotter. He let go of me abruptly, and I was thrown hard onto the bed.

My skinny frame slammed into the bed, pain jolting through me.

"Isabelle is pure and kind. She'd never do something like that," Edward said furiously. "And how dare you show such disrespect to Princess Isabelle? Do you have a death wish?"

With that, he stormed out again.

I stared at the empty room, clutching my chest as I gasped for air, but my tears just wouldn't stop.

*****

Isabelle walked in just as I was smashing things, using every ounce of strength I had.

I had once cherished the jewelry, hairpins, and little gifts Edward had given me. But now all I wanted was to destroy them.

I shattered a vase right at her feet, and she stumbled back, startled.

But soon, she broke into a triumphant sneer. "Is that all you've got? You're just Edward's mistress, and you think you can compete with me?"

I strode over, and a little bug slipped right into her sleeve without her even noticing.

"Princess Isabelle, so what if you're royalty?" I sneered. "At the end of the day, you're just another jealous woman fighting over a man.

"You call me a mistress, but I'm Edward's first love. Let's be real, you're just picking up what I left behind."

"How dare you?" she shouted, her cheeks burning with fury as she raised her hand, ready to slap me.

I caught her wrist, but she suddenly went limp on purpose, collapsing straight onto the shards of the broken vase on the floor.

"Isabelle!" Edward rushed back in just in time, scooping her into his arms and carefully checking her for injuries. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?"

Isabelle was sobbing in his arms. "She shoved me. Edward, she was trying to kill me. This is treason, and she should be executed for that."

Edward snapped his head up and, with a loud smack, slapped me hard across the face.

My cheek was on fire, and my ears were ringing like crazy.

"Seraphina, you must be out of your mind," Edward yelled. "All this over a maid? You starved yourself, smashed up the place, and even attacked Princess Isabelle. Are you really tired of living?"

I crashed to the ground, my palm landing right on a jagged shard. Blood gushed out right away, pain shooting through me, sharp and merciless.

I lifted my head, my eyes full of disappointment as I stared at him.

"Edward, I regret it so much. I should've let you die at the border," I said.

As soon as the words left my mouth, Edward's eyes flashed with shock. He suddenly reached out and ripped the pendant from my neck.

It was the pendant he'd crafted for me himself, back when his feelings for me ran deep. I went frantic, throwing myself at him to snatch it back.

"Give it back to me," I cried out.

The pendant slipped from his fingers, tumbling to the floor and splintering into fragments.

His eyes were red, too.

"Seraphina, you better reflect on your actions," he said. "Don't even think about stepping out of this room unless I say so."

With that, he carried Isabelle out, not sparing me a single glance.

The door slammed shut, and I just stood there, staring at the wreckage all over the floor, my eyes glued to the pendant, which was broken into pieces.

I remembered back when we were at the border, I accidentally broke a glass, and Edward freaked out like it was the end of the world.

He grabbed my finger and gently kissed away the blood.

But now, my hands were dripping with blood, and he wouldn't even look at me.

Looking back, that year at the border really was nothing but a dream.

Now, I was finally awake.

I dropped my eyes, face blank, and started pulling the shard out of my palm slowly.

My hand was a bloody mess. It hurt like hell.

I suddenly wanted to go home.