Chapter 3

3.

At my own birthday party, Caleb abandoned me yet again.

Thankfully, I wasn't the same girl who would sit in a corner and weep.

A branch of red plum blossoms suddenly appeared over my shoulder.

I followed the branch up to see the grinning face of Kaelen Voss.

He spoke with a slight Northern accent, his voice deep and melodic. "Elara, I found you."

My heart hammered against my ribs. "The treaty ceremony isn't for another month. Why are you here in the city?"

He ignored the gasps of the guests and sat down beside me, his eyes sparking with mischief.

"I couldn't sleep thinking about you finally being mine. I rode through three horses to get here early."

Six months ago, Caleb's mother was on her deathbed.

Her final wish was to see Caleb and me finally mated.

I had risked my reputation to find him in the Northern Wilds with a marriage contract, only for him to leave me for dead in a snowstorm.

Kaelen was the one who saved me.

And he was the Northern Prince I was now destined to marry.

As the party ended, he insisted I show him the old cathedral on the outskirts of the city.

Legend said that couples who prayed there would be bound for eternity.

I couldn't say no to him. We walked up the stone steps together.

He stayed half a step behind me, watching over me like a guardian.

I was laughing at something he said when I saw them.

Caleb, who had rushed away from my party, was carefully tucking a blossom into Seraphina's hair.

Kaelen's grip on my hand tightened.

I didn't blink. I just looked away.

Caleb turned and saw us. His face darkened instantly.

He stepped in front of Seraphina, his voice growling. "Elara? What kind of game is this?"

I couldn't blame him for the assumption. The old Elara would have caused a scene.

But that girl was dead.

Seraphina did her usual routine, clutching her chest. "Elara, please don't be mad. I just missed Cal so much…"

"I didn't mean to steal him from your party. I know he's your fiancé."

I let out a short, cold laugh. "Seraphina, keep your drama for someone who cares. Caleb and I have nothing. He isn't my fiancé."

Caleb's eyes were fixed on Seraphina's well-being, but he froze at my words.

He never expected to hear me draw such a sharp line between us.

Before he could speak, Seraphina let out a soft whimper. "Cal, my heart… it hurts."

Tears streamed down her face, the exact same way they did three years ago.

I rolled my eyes.

Kaelen, who had been watching the performance, let out a loud, mocking laugh.

"If she's sick, call a doctor. Is 'Cousin' just a local word for 'Paramedic' here?"