Chapter 1

Bastian carried me back to the Ivory Estate. He tenderly touched the scars left by the thirty-two Soul-rending Spikes on my body.

Everyone said my mother was a shameless maid who climbed into the High King's bed.

But he gave me dignity and honor. He told me, "Cass, you are the purest person in this entire world."

I naturally fell in love with him. When he was framed and drugged with a strong aphrodisiac, I lost myself in his kiss.

But when he sobered up, he slapped me hard in the face. "Cassia, why are you just as cheap as your mother!"

When his fiancée pushed me into the freezing Bitter Frost Lake, he just gave a light chuckle. He looked at me with deep disgust and said I would use any dirty trick.

At that moment, I finally understood.

I obeyed his mother's order and willingly guarded the Abyss Tower to atone for my sins.

Later, he killed his own mother and sliced his wife to death because of me. He then jumped off the Abyss Tower and was torn apart by demonic beasts.

1.

"Cassia, have you thought this through? The Abyss Tower is freezing cold and surrounded by monsters. You'll probably be eaten alive if you go there. Why don't you just marry the Kraken Lord as his concubine? At least you'll have someone to rely on."

On the high balcony, Bastian's mother, Lady Genevieve, asked me with fake concern. She made it sound like she truly cared about my future.

I gave a weak smile. I had just crawled out of the Bitter Frost Lake, and my whole body was shivering from the bone-chilling cold.

"My lady, the Kraken Lord's wife is the youngest daughter of the High King. She hates my mother to the core. If I go there, do you really think I can survive?"

The mockery in my eyes was so obvious that she felt guilty and covered her face, letting out a sigh.

"After all, this is the sin committed by your mother. Who else can you blame?"

My mother was the lowest maid in the Royal Palace.

She and the High King were originally in love, but when they were caught in bed, the High King denied everything.

"This cheap slave got me drunk and dared to shamelessly crawl into my bed! Guards, drag her out and feed her to the beasts!"

My mother was already pregnant with me at that time.

She wanted to die, but she held on just for my sake. She managed to survive in the Crimson Hollow, a place swarming with vicious monsters.

But when I was a hundred years old, I went out to find food one day. When I returned, I saw my mother's tragic death.

The High Queen had brought her guards to rip my mother's stomach open. She hung my mother's body in front of the Crimson Hollow, smiling with sick triumph.

"You cheap bitch, you actually survived in this filthy place for a hundred years! I don't know what kind of black magic you used to make the King remember you. I can only feel at peace when I see you like this."

Even as a young child, I was dragged back by her guards. She drove thirty-two Soul-rending Spikes into my body and threw me back next to my mother's corpse to die.

I was surrounded by hungry beasts. How could a dying child like me possibly survive?

I cried loudly and crawled to my mother's side in vain. Just as I dragged my wounded body to close her eyes, a beast locked its eyes on me.

I thought I was going to be the beast's dinner, but unexpectedly, I fell into a warm embrace.

It was Bastian, the noble and brilliant Lord. He had just returned from his trials in the mortal realm and brought me back to the Ivory Estate.

He stroked my blood-stained body, his eyes turning red. "Cass, from now on, consider this place your home."

In my long darkness, he was the only ray of light in my life.

When I first came to the Ivory Estate, I was so timid. I only dared to hide in the corner and hide the food in my sleeves.

"My mother hasn't eaten yet. I need to save this for her."

The maids couldn't help but laugh at me. Bastian stayed with me to bury my mother's body and gently told me she was gone.

"But you still have me, Cass. I will never leave you. I will always protect you, and no one will ever bully you again."

He gave me clean clothes and taught me how to respect myself. On stormy nights when I was terrified, he would hold my trembling body and patiently comfort me.

His breath fell on my hair, smelling of warm sandalwood. I only felt alive when I was in his arms.

I greedily absorbed his kindness to heal the pain of my tragic life.

But it was also him who woke up in bed and saw my blushing face. He looked horrified and roared, "Cassia, why are you just as cheap as your mother!"