Chapter 3

3

As soon as I woke up, the King summoned me.

But when I got to the hall, the head eunuch stopped me.

"Princess, the King wants you to listen from here."

Inside, I heard Silas's voice.

"My King, I have returned in victory. I only ask for the Northwest territory for my sister, Chloe. She took care of me in the camp for three years. Without her, I wouldn't be standing here."

I couldn't believe it. Even after I said no, he still went behind my back to steal my land.

In my last life, Chloe didn't show any gratitude after getting the land. She just mocked me.

A few days ago, I had told my father that the land was mine and I wouldn't give it to anyone.

"That land belongs to Lyra. The whole kingdom knows it. Does she know you're asking for this?" the King asked.

There was a long silence. Silas clearly didn't expect that question.

"She knows," he lied.

I stepped into the hall, my face like ice.

"I do not agree."

I saw Chloe was there too. Even while kneeling, they were leaning against each other.

Chloe's eyes were red. She was tugging at Silas's sleeve and sobbing quietly.

Silas patted her hand gently. Then he looked at me with a warning glare.

I ignored his daggers and looked straight at the King.

"Father, what is mine is mine. I won't give it up."

The King nodded and looked at Silas helplessly.

"General, you know the rules. A princess receives land upon marriage. If she gives it to a woman with no rank, the world will laugh at her. Do not bring this up again."

The King was firm. Silas looked at Chloe. When he saw her crying harder, he seemed to gain a burst of courage.

He held her even tighter. Their intimacy was disgusting.

My heart felt a small sting.

In public, he never wanted to be close to me. If I touched him, he would lecture me for hours about how a princess should set an example.

Now I realized he wasn't shy. He just didn't love me.

Silas's voice snapped me back to reality. He looked at me with pure determination.

"The King said a princess gets land upon marriage. If I divorce her, then she can just stay in the palace, right?"

I stood there, frozen. I couldn't believe he would go that far. Chloe gave me a smug, mocking look.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails drew blood.

I knew what he was going to say next. To save Chloe, he was going to destroy my reputation.

He spoke without a hint of hesitation.

"I have never slept with the Princess. When she was captured during the war, the enemy Alpha took her. She was desecrated. She's been traumatized ever since and refused to fulfill her duties…"

"Enough!"

I screamed, cutting him off.

I looked at him, feeling like I had saved a monster.

I was captured because I was covering his retreat. He had promised to protect me forever.

And now, he was throwing my darkest secret to the world just for a nameless woman.

The pain in my chest was suffocating. For the first time, I felt true hatred.

I turned to the King, my eyes hollow.

"I agree to the divorce. But I am keeping the land."

I looked back at Silas with pure disgust.

"Father, in exchange, I will be the one to marry into the Shadow Moon Kingdom."

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