“Lady Rihannan, is there a possibility that you will return to Arundell?” Jeffrey inquired.
Rihannan pondered for a moment, her response veiled in uncertainty. “Perhaps. I cannot say for certain.”
“I understand…” Jeffrey uttered, releasing a soft sigh. He had witnessed her growth from infancy, and the prospect of her departure pained him deeply. He had always envisioned her marrying a good man and bearing children, yet now, he found himself unable to wish it for her.
A brief laugh escaped Rihannan’s lips, carrying a tinge of regret, as she responded to Jeffrey’s words.
“Marriage is not in my plans, nor is the desire for children.”
Perplexed, Jeffrey inquired further, “What do you mean?”
“You may believe that I am young and lack wisdom, but that is far from the truth, Jeffrey. I genuinely have no inclination to marry or bear children. I speak from the depths of my heart.”
Rihannan clasped her hands together, a subtle indication of the underlying reasons.
For you see…
When life had blossomed within her womb, it had brought naught but pain and anguish.
As news of Rihannan’s pregnancy spread, the Queen’s Palace became a hive of activity. Thousands of people and esteemed nobles, secretly harboring respect for Rihannan, flocked to offer their congratulations and lavish her with expensive gifts.
And above all, Igor was elated. Whenever his schedule permitted, he would visit her, attentively inquiring about her well-being and whether she had eaten.
Shaking her head, Rihannan smiled and whispered softly, “I never knew the King possessed this side of him.”
From that moment, it appeared as if the icy chasm between them began to thaw rapidly.
Anticipating the birth of their child, they engaged in conversations more frequently than ever before.
“I wonder whether it shall be a son or a daughter,” he mused, gently placing his hand upon her growing abdomen.
Unlike Igor, whose heart brimmed with hope and expectation, Rihannan held a different perspective, causing her to recoil slightly at his words.
“Please, let it be a boy,” he requested.
For Rihannan, the gender of her unborn child held no significance. Regardless of the outcome, she was determined to pour every ounce of her love into their existence. However, she was well aware of the hardships her child would endure if born a princess. Given the difficulties she had experienced during this pregnancy, Rihannan harbored doubts about the prospect of further pregnancies. Perhaps this child would be her first and last.
Gazing at Igor tenderly, Rihannan responded, “I will not mind whether we have a son or a daughter.”
But her answer proved inconceivable to Igor. Rihannan regarded him with a gaze filled with curiosity, and in return, he smiled.
“Of course. The gender of the child matters not. You shall gradually understand my meaning.”
Uncertain of his intentions, Rihannan felt a measure of relief. At least she knew he would not turn a blind eye if their unborn child happened to be a princess.
Reflecting upon it now, those were the happiest moments she had shared with Igor. He had treated Rihannan with nothing but kindness, and her father and Leticia had remained silent once they discovered she would soon bear Igor’s child.
As time progressed, her body grew heavier, and she required more rest. Rihannan relocated from the royal palace to a seasonal residence, where she spent most of her time engrossed in books or knitting garments for her unborn child, freeing herself from the obligations of a queen. Occasionally, disturbances would arise outside, but her attendants swiftly attended to them, sparing her any worry.
Then, one day, Rihannan chose to visit Igor’s office in the royal palace of her own accord. Such an action would have been inconceivable in the past, yet given the restoration and renewal of their relationship, it seemed only natural to pay him a visit.
Or so she had believed.
However, what she encountered within those walls would scar her deeply.
There, in that office, a man and a woman engaged in a scandalous embrace. The woman, with fiery red tresses, reclined provocatively upon the royal desk, legs spread wide, moaning with unabashed pleasure. The man stood between her legs, fully engulfed in their passionate union. The woman’s arms coiled around his neck like a serpent, and her crimson lips pressed against his collar.
In Rihannan’s eyes, Igor seemed all too willing to revel in the woman’s affections.
Startled by Rihannan’s sudden appearance, Igor’s face contorted in surprise, while Leticia wore a smile brimming with malicious satisfaction.
So it had come to this…
Rihannan turned on her heels and swiftly fled down the corridor. So, they had been indulging in clandestine trysts, concealed from her prying eyes. Of course, she should have known. For a while now, he had shown no interest in her body, as he had found another to satisfy his insatiable desires.
“Ah…”
As she descended the staircase, her mind was consumed by anguish, accompanied by throbbing headaches and bouts of dizziness. Her body staggered forward, drained of strength. Perhaps it was stress, perhaps shock, but whatever the cause, she did not wish to succumb to unconsciousness in such a moment. Yet, against her will, darkness enveloped her.
When clarity returned, the life within her womb had vanished—gone. She couldn’t fathom it. Grief washed over her as she tenderly caressed her belly. She should have shed tears, but not a single drop would fall.
The maids, tears streaming down their faces, tried to console her, assuring her that she could conceive another child in time.
However, deep within her, Rihannan knew it was an empty promise. She had lost the precious life within her due to her own carelessness.
Days passed, and Igor failed to visit her. When she inquired, the servants exchanged glances and remained tight-lipped.
And that was when she realized her fate.
Abandoned after losing their child, she was no longer of any use to him.
Soon after, soldiers stormed into her palace, dragging her away to a prison cell, where she was unjustly accused of disobedience to the King, treasonous dealings with foreigners, and conspiring with Crichton.
Rihannan found no inclination to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Perhaps Igor couldn’t bear to reveal the true reason behind his abandonment. It would hardly paint a favorable portrait in the eyes of the Arundell people, after all.
Thus, he sought convenient pretexts to incarcerate her, finally turning his back. Moreover, the timing couldn’t have been more opportune, coinciding with Dimitri Preibius’s coronation.
And then came the falsely damning evidence, implicating her in an affair with Crichton. She knew it to be a blatant falsehood, but the masses were quick to believe the lies fed to them.
Above all, it presented a golden opportunity for the King—to seize the power once held by the late Queen and to grasp Crichton’s authority.
In exchange for Rihannan’s downfall, Igor could attain all the power he desired.
Leticia arrived at her prison soon after. The fact that she could come and go freely attested to her elevated status and influence.
“Poor, beloved sister,” Leticia taunted.
“You don’t wish for others to witness your death and decapitation, do you? Yield. This is the last resort to safeguard my sister’s honor.”
Rihannan was prepared to consume the poison offered by Leticia. There was no trace of regret in her decision. All she desired… was to put an end to her wretched existence. Yet, ultimately, she returned to the past.
She couldn’t comprehend why this had come to pass, but one thing was certain—she would not repeat the mistakes of her former self. She would never allow her heart to be so recklessly exposed.
“Jeffrey, I am leaving this place, and I shall live life on my own terms. I won’t allow anyone to control me.”
Ever since her mother’s passing, Rihannan had ceased to think for herself. Her world had gradually diminished, and she had spent her adulthood seeking love from those who did not reciprocate. She had anxiously sought her father’s love as a child, and as a woman, she had longed for the affection of her lover.
But no longer would she live in such a manner.
“I yearn for a life of happiness, Jeffrey.”
And she would embrace it with unwavering determination.
Observing her resolve, Jeffrey nodded and offered a gentle smile. “Yes, Lady Rihannan. Live freely and joyously, on your own terms. I am certain the late Countess would have wished for that as well.”
***
Two days later, Rihannan and Mary embarked for the harbor. Their estate stood in close proximity to the ocean, rendering the journey a mere two-hour sail.
The ship reserved by Mary was a regular ferry, shuttling passengers between Arundell, Crichton, and beyond.
The grand vessel, adorned in white and blue, floated gracefully upon the sun-kissed sea, akin to a picturesque painting.
This marked the commencement of her new life.
“Lady Rihannan, is there a possibility that you will return to Arundell?” Jeffrey inquired.
Rihannan pondered for a moment, her response veiled in uncertainty. “Perhaps. I cannot say for certain.”
“I understand…” Jeffrey uttered, releasing a soft sigh. He had witnessed her growth from infancy, and the prospect of her departure pained him deeply. He had always envisioned her marrying a good man and bearing children, yet now, he found himself unable to wish it for her.
A brief laugh escaped Rihannan’s lips, carrying a tinge of regret, as she responded to Jeffrey’s words.
“Marriage is not in my plans, nor is the desire for children.”
Perplexed, Jeffrey inquired further, “What do you mean?”
“You may believe that I am young and lack wisdom, but that is far from the truth, Jeffrey. I genuinely have no inclination to marry or bear children. I speak from the depths of my heart.”
Rihannan clasped her hands together, a subtle indication of the underlying reasons.
For you see…
When life had blossomed within her womb, it had brought naught but pain and anguish.
As news of Rihannan’s pregnancy spread, the Queen’s Palace became a hive of activity. Thousands of people and esteemed nobles, secretly harboring respect for Rihannan, flocked to offer their congratulations and lavish her with expensive gifts.
And above all, Igor was elated. Whenever his schedule permitted, he would visit her, attentively inquiring about her well-being and whether she had eaten.
Shaking her head, Rihannan smiled and whispered softly, “I never knew the King possessed this side of him.”
From that moment, it appeared as if the icy chasm between them began to thaw rapidly.
Anticipating the birth of their child, they engaged in conversations more frequently than ever before.
“I wonder whether it shall be a son or a daughter,” he mused, gently placing his hand upon her growing abdomen.
Unlike Igor, whose heart brimmed with hope and expectation, Rihannan held a different perspective, causing her to recoil slightly at his words.
“Please, let it be a boy,” he requested.
For Rihannan, the gender of her unborn child held no significance. Regardless of the outcome, she was determined to pour every ounce of her love into their existence. However, she was well aware of the hardships her child would endure if born a princess. Given the difficulties she had experienced during this pregnancy, Rihannan harbored doubts about the prospect of further pregnancies. Perhaps this child would be her first and last.
Gazing at Igor tenderly, Rihannan responded, “I will not mind whether we have a son or a daughter.”
But her answer proved inconceivable to Igor. Rihannan regarded him with a gaze filled with curiosity, and in return, he smiled.
“Of course. The gender of the child matters not. You shall gradually understand my meaning.”
Uncertain of his intentions, Rihannan felt a measure of relief. At least she knew he would not turn a blind eye if their unborn child happened to be a princess.
Reflecting upon it now, those were the happiest moments she had shared with Igor. He had treated Rihannan with nothing but kindness, and her father and Leticia had remained silent once they discovered she would soon bear Igor’s child.
As time progressed, her body grew heavier, and she required more rest. Rihannan relocated from the royal palace to a seasonal residence, where she spent most of her time engrossed in books or knitting garments for her unborn child, freeing herself from the obligations of a queen. Occasionally, disturbances would arise outside, but her attendants swiftly attended to them, sparing her any worry.
Then, one day, Rihannan chose to visit Igor’s office in the royal palace of her own accord. Such an action would have been inconceivable in the past, yet given the restoration and renewal of their relationship, it seemed only natural to pay him a visit.
Or so she had believed.
However, what she encountered within those walls would scar her deeply.
There, in that office, a man and a woman engaged in a scandalous embrace. The woman, with fiery red tresses, reclined provocatively upon the royal desk, legs spread wide, moaning with unabashed pleasure. The man stood between her legs, fully engulfed in their passionate union. The woman’s arms coiled around his neck like a serpent, and her crimson lips pressed against his collar.
In Rihannan’s eyes, Igor seemed all too willing to revel in the woman’s affections.
Startled by Rihannan’s sudden appearance, Igor’s face contorted in surprise, while Leticia wore a smile brimming with malicious satisfaction.
So it had come to this…
Rihannan turned on her heels and swiftly fled down the corridor. So, they had been indulging in clandestine trysts, concealed from her prying eyes. Of course, she should have known. For a while now, he had shown no interest in her body, as he had found another to satisfy his insatiable desires.
“Ah…”
As she descended the staircase, her mind was consumed by anguish, accompanied by throbbing headaches and bouts of dizziness. Her body staggered forward, drained of strength. Perhaps it was stress, perhaps shock, but whatever the cause, she did not wish to succumb to unconsciousness in such a moment. Yet, against her will, darkness enveloped her.
When clarity returned, the life within her womb had vanished—gone. She couldn’t fathom it. Grief washed over her as she tenderly caressed her belly. She should have shed tears, but not a single drop would fall.
The maids, tears streaming down their faces, tried to console her, assuring her that she could conceive another child in time.
However, deep within her, Rihannan knew it was an empty promise. She had lost the precious life within her due to her own carelessness.
Days passed, and Igor failed to visit her. When she inquired, the servants exchanged glances and remained tight-lipped.
And that was when she realized her fate.
Abandoned after losing their child, she was no longer of any use to him.
Soon after, soldiers stormed into her palace, dragging her away to a prison cell, where she was unjustly accused of disobedience to the King, treasonous dealings with foreigners, and conspiring with Crichton.
Rihannan found no inclination to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Perhaps Igor couldn’t bear to reveal the true reason behind his abandonment. It would hardly paint a favorable portrait in the eyes of the Arundell people, after all.
Thus, he sought convenient pretexts to incarcerate her, finally turning his back. Moreover, the timing couldn’t have been more opportune, coinciding with Dimitri Preibius’s coronation.
And then came the falsely damning evidence, implicating her in an affair with Crichton. She knew it to be a blatant falsehood, but the masses were quick to believe the lies fed to them.
Above all, it presented a golden opportunity for the King—to seize the power once held by the late Queen and to grasp Crichton’s authority.
In exchange for Rihannan’s downfall, Igor could attain all the power he desired.
Leticia arrived at her prison soon after. The fact that she could come and go freely attested to her elevated status and influence.
“Poor, beloved sister,” Leticia taunted.
“You don’t wish for others to witness your death and decapitation, do you? Yield. This is the last resort to safeguard my sister’s honor.”
Rihannan was prepared to consume the poison offered by Leticia. There was no trace of regret in her decision. All she desired… was to put an end to her wretched existence. Yet, ultimately, she returned to the past.
She couldn’t comprehend why this had come to pass, but one thing was certain—she would not repeat the mistakes of her former self. She would never allow her heart to be so recklessly exposed.
“Jeffrey, I am leaving this place, and I shall live life on my own terms. I won’t allow anyone to control me.”
Ever since her mother’s passing, Rihannan had ceased to think for herself. Her world had gradually diminished, and she had spent her adulthood seeking love from those who did not reciprocate. She had anxiously sought her father’s love as a child, and as a woman, she had longed for the affection of her lover.
But no longer would she live in such a manner.
“I yearn for a life of happiness, Jeffrey.”
And she would embrace it with unwavering determination.
Observing her resolve, Jeffrey nodded and offered a gentle smile. “Yes, Lady Rihannan. Live freely and joyously, on your own terms. I am certain the late Countess would have wished for that as well.”
***
Two days later, Rihannan and Mary embarked for the harbor. Their estate stood in close proximity to the ocean, rendering the journey a mere two-hour sail.
The ship reserved by Mary was a regular ferry, shuttling passengers between Arundell, Crichton, and beyond.
The grand vessel, adorned in white and blue, floated gracefully upon the sun-kissed sea, akin to a picturesque painting.
This marked the commencement of her new life.
