Chapter 2
I simply turned and retired to my chambers, sitting at the dressing table and gazing at my pale reflection in the mirror.
That long-forgotten voice finally resonated through the depths of my blood.
It wasn't my own voice.
It was another will—cold, ancient, and utterly devoid of emotion—lying dormant in my veins.
"Host, seven of the Eight Marks of Sorrowblood have been gathered. Only one remains. When all are complete, the Sanctblood will awaken, and the blood contract bond will destroy itself.
"The last one: his Tear of Regretblood."
I gave a faint smile, smoothing back a stray lock of hair.
Eight years had passed.
So, after all this time, Derek had never once shed a single tear of true remorse for me.
Would he regret this time?
Three days after Derek left, a letter came from Nocthollow.
It was from Victoria, written in shaky letters, inked in blood.
Every line dripped with mockery.
"Rest easy, Big Sister. Your prince and your precious blood heir will get all the 'special treatment' they deserve," she wrote.
On the fifth day, I got a second letter. [Who would've thought that your noble Derek could show such a wild side when it really matters?]
Along with the letter, she sent back the undergarment I'd sewn for Derek.
On the seventh day, the third letter arrived right on schedule.
It read: [Lucas was so well-behaved today. He even hugged me and called me 'Mommy.' He said Nocthollow is much more fun than the castle and that he doesn't want to go back. But it's just childish talk, so don't take it to heart.]
I quietly stashed all those letters in an iron box and logged the dates and the names of each child returned.
Then I collected the blood oaths from every parent whose kid had been taken, spent a ton of dollars to send them by courier on horseback to a distant friend.
Every time Caroline read those taunting letters, she'd get so upset she'd cry.
"My lady, please don't be sad. I'm sure it's a temporary arrangement for His Highness and Lucas. He must still care about you," Caroline said.
Her voice faded, barely holding any confidence.
See for yourself, Derek.
Not even they bought the idea that he ever loved me.
So how could I possibly believe it?
Ever since Lucas was taken, I—once such a crybaby—hadn't shed a single tear.
Even on the tenth day, when Victoria broke her promise and didn't send Lucas back, I still didn't cry.
When the children who'd been returned told me how the servants treated him so harshly, I didn't cry then either.
My face stayed calm, no matter what I heard.
I was so calm that even the servant who had led the others in begging for my mercy—risking her own life just days before—now looked at me with nothing but pity as she came to collect her child.
"My lady, you're truly kind. Our whole family will always remember your grace. But His Highness... he's just not someone you can trust your future to," she said.
I realized Derek was never truly dependable—not since the second time he stood by and let Victoria destroy my blood contract ceremony.
The night before that ceremony, Victoria knocked me out and used forbidden magic to seal away half of my bloodline power.
When I woke, I could feel half my bloodline cold and lifeless within me, and I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
When Derek came back, he shook his head and let out a sigh. "She's never been able to find a Blood Mate.
"It's only natural for her to be jealous of you. Lillian, your bloodline power can be restored. Don't let her get to you."
That time, I cried the whole night through.
But from the very start, I'd put my trust in the wrong person.
Lucas was the child I'd given everything for, pouring my bloodline into bringing him into this world. Victoria's refusal to return him—of course it broke my heart.
I was disappointed not only in Derek, but in Lucas too.
Before he was taken, Lucas crept into my room late at night, grabbed something sharp, and snipped off half my hair, muttering to himself the whole time. "Mommy is bad.
"If I cut off all her hair, I can get a new mommy. I want Victoria to be my mommy. She takes me riding on big horses."
It was obvious who taught him that.
The next day, Caroline burst in, breathless and wide-eyed.
"My lady, His Highness sent a letter," she cried.
I took the letter and tore it open.
Derek's handwriting was all over the place, like he'd dashed it off in a rush.
It read: [Lillian, Victoria says she'll let Lucas go if you give up your spot as my Blood Mate. Don't make a fuss—just agree for now. We'll sort it out once I'm back.]
I stared at those words and couldn't help but laugh for ages.
I laughed at how he still thought I cared about being his official Blood Mate.
What he didn't realize was that it wasn't just the title—I didn't want him or Lucas anymore, either.
At the same time, an envoy from the Coven Council arrived at my estate.
A man clad in a dark crimson robe stood in my parlor, handing me a decree with a commanding presence.
He said, "Ms. Virellian, the Council has received reports that your bloodline has grown too weak to sustain the territory's bloodline array.
"You are required to submit 500 milliliters of heartblood within thirty days to prove you still deserve your place as Blood Mate."
Five hundred milliliters of heartblood?