I forced a bitter smile. "I heard the Princess adores colored sky lanterns. If we could make her smile and convince her to attend your wedding, wouldn't that bring honor to the occasion?"
Shelagh eyed me with suspicion. "How would a worthless wretch like you know what the Princess likes?"
"Believe it or don't. If it turns out to be false, it's no loss to you either way, Miss Fox."
After Shelagh left, I curled into the corner of the bed, my body burning with fever, my lower abdomen seized with stabbing pain. No one came.
Looking back now, meeting Chester Delgado was the single greatest regret of my life.
Through the haze of unconsciousness, I caught a blurred glimpse of rainbow-colored lanterns drifting past the window.
Only then did I let out a breath and smile.
Long ago, my father and I had made a pact: whenever colored sky lanterns were lit, it meant I was in danger, and someone would come to take me away.
At some point, Chester appeared. He sat at the edge of my bed for a long time.
When he saw me open my eyes, he touched my forehead. "The fever's broken. Come on, sit up and have some porridge."
I struggled upright. "Shelagh came. She forced an entire bowl of that sterilizing concoction down my throat. Did you know?"
Chester's expression faltered for a moment. He lowered his gaze. "I knew."
"You knew?"
I clenched every muscle in my body to keep the tears from falling.
He reached for my hand. I pulled away.
"Stella, she was only protecting herself. If you'd given birth, where would that leave her and her child? It's only human nature."
I let out a hollow laugh. Human nature. What a convenient excuse.
Chester set the bowl down and continued. "After Shelagh went home, she had terrible stomach pains. It's possible our child's spirit unsettled her..."
He looked at me, hesitating, then pressed on.
"There's a high monk at Serenity Abbey. Go to him and ask him to perform rites for the child's soul. Then climb all nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine steps on your hands and knees, one bow per step, and bring back a blessing charm for Shelagh. Do that, and we can put this whole matter behind us. Alright?"
I stared at him, my eyes burning red.
"Chester Delgado, you and I are finished. If you want a blessing charm, go get it yourself."
I dragged myself off the bed, trying to leave this wretched place.
He blocked my path.
He scooped me up, ignoring my thrashing, and threw me onto a horse. He rode hard until we reached the foot of Serenity Abbey.
"Take her up the mountain."
Two guards seized me by the arms, one on each side. I hauled my broken body forward, dropping to my knees and pressing my forehead to the stone with every step.
Two days without food or water, fresh from a miscarriage. I passed out and woke and passed out again along the way.
I don't remember how I obtained the blessing charm. All I know is that when I finally saw Chester at the bottom, my legs gave out and I collapsed.
He caught me and gathered me into his arms.
"Stella, you've suffered so much. I promise, even after I marry Shelagh, you'll be the only one in my heart."
I closed my eyes slowly. Three days ago, I might have believed those words. Now they made my stomach turn.
"I got you your blessing charm. Let me go."
He ignored my plea and carried me back to the cottage.
"Stella, don't be stubborn. The wedding is tomorrow. Shelagh has agreed to let you keep living in the cottage afterward. You'll stay out of each other's way. Alright?"
Before leaving, he added one last instruction: "The Princess may come to observe the ceremony tomorrow. Stay in the cottage and don't cause trouble."
Shortly after he left, my father's secret agents found me.
I looked in the direction he had gone, then at this little cottage that had never truly been mine, and a quiet smile crossed my lips.
I hope tomorrow, you won't regret this.
On the day of the wedding, the Delgado residence was draped in red silk, every corner bursting with celebration. Chester stood in his crimson wedding robes, Shelagh at his side.
They were about to begin the ceremonial bows when a voice rang out from beyond the gates: "Her Royal Highness, the Princess, has arrived!"
The red silk in Shelagh's hands trembled. A smile curled at the corner of her mouth. She hadn't expected the Princess to actually come.
