Chapter 1

During the trial in the Demon Pit, the girl I had kindly taken in deliberately provoked a demonic beast and shoved me in front of her as a human shield.

I was torn and bloodied by its fangs, while she fainted delicately into the arms of my two childhood sweethearts.

"Celine, you have a protective talisman and a celestial body. You will be fine."

"Once we take Kendra to safety, we will come right back to save you!"

When I crawled out of that living hell after barely surviving, I found my chambers brilliantly lit.

The two men I had waited for in vain were now smiling tenderly, lighting birthday candles for Kendra. "Today is your birthday. Nothing matters more than celebrating you."

Thousands of years of devotion turned into ash in that single moment.

The next morning, clutching the bleeding wounds on my chest, I calmly accepted the marriage proposal from Gareth, the God of War.

1.

When the messenger bird delivered my marriage contract, the wind caught the portrait of Merrick, Corbin, and me, blowing it straight toward the fireplace.

My maid, Phoebe, gasped and rushed forward to rescue it. "My lady, you cherish this painting above all else and keep it hanging in the hall every day. It would be terrible if it burned!"

I looked up with a faint smile. "Let it burn. It does not matter anymore."

On my desk lay the freshly delivered marriage contract.

In a few days, I would marry Gareth, the God of War.

Phoebe froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. "My lady, are you truly getting married? What about Lord Merrick and Lord Corbin? You grew up together, and they always swore they would never marry anyone but you!"

She let out a heavy sigh. "Can you really let them go?"

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My face was covered in cuts, and a deep laceration ran across my right eye, to say nothing of the throbbing pain across my body.

Even if I could not let go, what choice did I have?

The moment they abandoned me in the Demon Pit to face the beast's fury alone just to protect Kendra, our centuries of affection vanished into thin air.

I touched the warm jade bangles on my wrists. Years ago, knowing my body was naturally frail and cold, Merrick and Corbin had climbed the sacred peaks to find rare spiritual jade, carving and polishing these twin bracelets for me.

Back then, they climbed three thousand heavenly steps and knelt before the Emperor for three days and three nights just to present me with the most extraordinary birthday gift.

Merrick had smiled with shining eyes. "Just like these unbroken rings, we promise to stay by your side forever."

Corbin's gaze had softened into liquid warmth. "As long as you are happy, Celine, we will brave fire and storm for you."

I had grown up carefree under their devoted protection, naively believing we would spend eternity together.

I never imagined that a single act of pity toward Kendra would ruin everything.

Her mother had fallen to the dark path, leaving Kendra despised and abused within the Heavenly Palace.

One day, I found her on her knees, desperately begging for mercy over a bruised celestial herb.

Moved by pity, I brought her back to live in Blossom Palace.

At first, Merrick and Corbin disliked her, often complaining to me in secret. "Because of her, you do not even have time to spend with us anymore!"

I merely laughed at their jealousy toward a helpless girl, constantly mediating between them so Kendra could feel welcomed.

Yet over time, Kendra began acting bold and fearless, following Merrick and Corbin on their hunts and training excursions.

They started looking at her with admiration, letting her tag along and teasing her with affectionate banter.

Meanwhile, my frail health was twisted by Kendra into the act of an innocent damsel playing the victim, which slowly drove a wedge between my sweethearts and me.

I used to hope we could mend our bond, but the incident in the Demon Pit shattered every illusion.

What is gone is gone, and yesterday's warmth cannot be reclaimed.

Phoebe placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, her eyes full of resolve. "You are the kindest soul in the realms, my lady. Perhaps marrying the God of War will be the true blessing you deserve!"