Chapter 2

2.

"Greetings, Lunar Queen," the other girls said, bowing their heads. Only Seraphina stood tall, her chin tilted in defiance.

Someone tried to pull her sleeve, signaling her to show respect. She just shook them off.

"Everyone in the city knows Silas loves me more than life itself. I'm carrying his heir now, and I'm far too delicate to be bowing."

"If I hurt myself, I won't be able to please him tonight. I'm sure you understand, right, sister?"

"You're right," I replied calmly. "Do whatever makes you happy."

I told the rest of them they didn't need to bow to me anymore either.

I only had ten days left. I just wanted to spend them in peace.

Seraphina's eyes landed on the silver pin in my hair. She reached out and grabbed me.

"Sister, that pin is beautiful. It would look much better on me."

She reached out and snatched it from my head. I didn't think; I just grabbed it back.

Seraphina let out a dramatic gasp and faked a stumble. She threw herself backward, landing in the decorative pond with a loud splash.

Right at that moment, Silas walked into the courtyard.

He rushed over to pull the soaking Seraphina out of the water. He immediately wrapped her in his own cloak.

"Silas, please don't be mad at her! I didn't mean to upset her," Seraphina sobbed into his chest.

Silas rubbed her back, his voice low and soothing. Then he looked at me, his eyes burning with rage.

"What happened here?" he demanded.

"She tried to steal my pin. I was just taking back what belongs to me."

Silas looked at the pin in my hand. He held out his palm.

"Give it to me," he said.

I stared at him, heartbroken. He had given me this pin the day he asked me to stay.

Now he was taking it back. Well, fine. It never really belonged to me anyway.

I placed it in his hand. Suddenly, he shoved me with enough force to send me stumbling back.

I fell into the freezing water. The last thing I saw was the disgust in Silas's eyes and the smug grin on Seraphina's face.

"If you touch her again, I won't be so merciful," he growled.

He looked at the other girls, and they all dropped to their knees, trembling.

"Silas, I'm so cold," Seraphina whimpered.

He picked her up in his arms, looking at her with nothing but pure devotion, and walked away.

After that day, every servant in the estate knew that Seraphina was the one in charge.

I caught a terrible fever from the cold water and couldn't even leave my bed.

My maid, Lyra, tried to get Silas to visit me, but he kicked her out every time.

The servants outside my window didn't even bother to lower their voices when they gossiped.

"I heard the Lunar Queen was just a placeholder. She was only chosen because she looks like Seraphina."

"Yeah, if Seraphina hadn't gotten lost years ago, Elara would still be a beggar on the streets."

I lay in the dark, listening to them. My heart felt like it was being shredded.

So that was the truth. I was just a ghost of the woman he actually wanted.