Chapter 2

2.

Two thousand years ago, I saved Silas while traveling through the human lands. We fell in love and married quickly.

But Silas was a famous young general back then. Even the princess of that kingdom wanted him.

She summoned me to the palace to humiliate me.

When her insults didn't work, she ordered her maids to slap me. I refused to take it.

I instinctively used my power. A flash of purple light sent the maid flying, killing her instantly.

Everyone at the banquet saw the purple glow in my palm. They were terrified and told the King I was a demon.

The King was furious. He ordered his guards to beat me to death in the main hall.

Just as the clubs were about to fall, Silas threw himself over me. He used his body to shield me.

I wanted to tell him I was a Shadow Goddess and couldn't be killed. But before I could, a guard's blade pierced Silas's heart.

After Silas died, I saw his soul float toward the Celestial Realm.

At the same time, a mysterious force pulled me upward with him.

Inside the War Palace, Silas was dressed in golden armor, radiating power. He looked down at me coldly.

"Since you died because of me, you shall stay by my side."

From then on, I became a maid in his palace.

It turned out Silas was a High Alpha of the Celestial Realm. He had only been in the human world to endure a trial.

He had been sent there to forget the Rose Goddess, Rosalie, who had died of poison.

I was naive enough to think Silas would eventually forget her and look at me.

Everything changed four months ago. He came to my room drunk and forced himself on me.

When he woke up, he said coldly, "I will take responsibility for this."

He even took me to the Bond Stone.

He used his blood to carve our names side by side.

At the time, I was blinded by happiness. I lived every day in the joy of our upcoming union.

Now, it just seems pathetic.

I touched my slightly swollen belly and picked up the bowl of herbal medicine. It was a draft meant to end a pregnancy.

Just as I was about to drink it, the door was kicked open.

Silas walked in, holding that woman's hand.

I immediately used my magic to turn invisible and stepped into the shadows.

The woman was wearing Rosalie's old jewelry. She leaned into Silas's chest, but Silas was frowning slightly.

"Rowena, why did you bring me here? I thought you wanted a gift."

"Silas," Rowena said with a pout. She pointed at the small Obsidian Bloom sitting on my nightstand. "I want that."

My heart skipped a beat. I almost spoke up.

But logic held me back.

Silas's frown deepened. "Those blooms are everywhere. What's so special about hers?"

Rowena gripped his arm and acted spoiled. "But I want that one!"

Silas hesitated, but when he looked at Rowena's face, his voice softened.

"If you want it, take it."

Rowena smiled and grabbed the plant. "What if Lyra gets angry?"

"It doesn't matter," Silas said, patting her head. "It's just a common plant."

I stood there, staring blankly as they walked away.

That wasn't a common plant.

Years ago, Silas was badly wounded in a war against the Demon King.

I had returned to the Underworld and spent a thousand years of my divine energy to grow that bloom to heal him.

Now, he had given it away to another woman.

Fine. I sighed. Let the dogs have it.

Suddenly, the child in my womb kicked me. I froze and realized I had spilled the medicine all over the floor.

The herbs needed to end a celestial pregnancy were very rare.

It looked like I would have to find the ingredients again.