Chapter 3

I forced down my nerves and spoke in a shaky voice. "Elena, it's my wedding to the Crown Prince today, and the hall is full of guests. That fierce dog of yours is difficult to control. Could you please take him away?

"What if it bites someone? What would we do then?"

Elena lifted her chin and looked down her nose at me. "Don't worry, Ms. Cole. Blackie is perfectly well-behaved and listens to everything I say.

"Go on, Blackie, give Ms. Cole a handshake."

Suddenly, Blackie charged straight at me. Even if he didn't hurt me, just knocking me over would destroy my reputation in front of everyone.

And Wesley, who'd just claimed Blackie was perfectly well-behaved, just watched with a cold, indifferent look.

At the last possible moment, Blackie went wild, tearing into Wesley's arm and biting down hard. No matter how desperately Elena shouted at him to stop, Blackie ignored her.

When the guards finally put the crazed dog down, Wesley's arm was already torn open—so badly injured that bone showed through.

The guests didn't dare stick around any longer—they scrambled to find any excuse to get out of there.

When the Queen, Mathilda Green, showed up with the imperial physician, she found Elena clutching Blackie, absolutely losing it.

"Blackie always sticks to his mom and dad—how could he suddenly turn on his own dad like that? There's definitely some shady business going on here!"

Elena raised her red whip and shot me a murderous glare. "You bitch! Did you mess with him? Is this your doing?"

Mathilda, her face dark with anger, ordered the imperial physician to tend to Wesley. "I told you not to let that witch into the palace, but you did it anyway!

"You went all out to spoil her, and even let her keep that terrifying beast. If something happens to your arm, how am I supposed to live?"

I hurriedly knelt and begged for forgiveness. "It's all my fault, Your Majesty. I couldn't stop Elena."

Mathilda's tone eased up a little. "It's obvious Elena was up to no good—how could anyone blame you for what happened?

"Elena is wild and impossible to control—always causing trouble. It's infuriating. Guards, give her twenty lashes. Maybe that'll finally teach her a lesson!"

Elena pointed her red whip right at Mathilda. "How dare you!"

"I've never had anyone lay a hand on me since the day I was born—not even once! You killed Blackie, and I haven't even gone after you for that yet, and now you want to punish me?

"Wesley, aren't you going to say anything?"

Wesley went ghostly pale. Looking at Elena, his eyes were filled with disappointment. "Even Angel, who just arrived at the palace, knows how to care about me.

"We promised each other forever, and now I'm injured because of your dog. Have you even bothered to look in on me?"

Elena instantly exploded. "Seriously? Your arm's messed up, but you're not dead.

"You're still bouncing around, getting all cozy with another woman, while Blackie will never wake up again!

"Wesley Blake, I hate you! I'm done with you—don't ever talk to me again."

After her outburst, Elena tried to run, but Mathilda's guards grabbed her, dragged her out to the courtyard, and gave her a full twenty lashes without mercy.

Hearing the crack of the sticks echo through the air, I went pale with fear and pleaded, "Mathilda, Elena may be reckless, but she's the apple of Wesley's eye.

"Please show mercy—if Wesley keeps worrying about her, he'll never recover from his injury."

Wesley's eyes were full of emotion, thanks to my performance. I was feeling pretty smug about my acting skills when suddenly, chaos broke out at the door. "Blood! The consort is bleeding! Someone, help!"

The imperial physician, who had just finished bandaging Wesley, rushed over to check on Elena. He returned, looking like he'd seen a ghost. "The consort couldn't handle the punishment. She miscarried—the baby was just two months along."

Mathilda closed her eyes. "So be it. Like a barbarian's kid would ever amount to anything."

She waved her hand, leaving the imperial physician to take care of Wesley and Elena, then turned and walked away.

I helped Wesley change into some clean, comfy clothes, then tossed his blood-soaked robe right into the fire pit. "Blood on your wedding night is seriously unlucky. Might as well burn it."

But Wesley just kept staring anxiously at the door. "How's Elena?"

I kept my head down, acting like I was too afraid to say anything.

Wesley's nanny was clearly upset. "Your Highness, you're injured and still worrying about her?

"And what about her? She failed to protect your heir, and now she just rode off with that vicious dog's body in her arms, like nothing even happened!"

Wesley's gaze darkened for a second, then he turned to me and said, "You've had a long day. Go get some rest."

I nodded. "I'll go to the chapel first and pray for your safety before I rest."—yeah, right, like I'd actually do that, I thought to myself.

Credit where it was due, the palace was seriously loaded.

Man, this chapel put the Cole family shrine to shame. It was enormous.

I picked up a candle and set it down in front of the statue.

"By the gods above, I swear I only did it to protect myself. I smeared the substance that drove the beast into a frenzy onto Wesley's sleeve, and it left his arm wounded.

"If you're not going to hold it against me, then please accept my offering."

Sure enough, the candle kept burning bright—it didn't flicker for a second.

I knew it. The gods were merciful. They didn't bother themselves with the affairs of a mere woman like me.