Chapter 3

3 I stepped forward to shove the guards pinning Pearle down, desperate to pull her free.

Unexpectedly, they tightened their grip, making it clear they had no intention of letting us walk away.

One of them kicked me hard right in the torso, sending me crashing onto the stones.

The woman barked with laughter.

"Denying it won't save you! I saw what I saw. Who do you think you are to demand answers from Commander Thorne? You just want to crawl back into his bed and whisper poison about me, don't you? It is because of you that he hesitates to marry me!"

I curled around my stomach, enduring the sharp agony radiating through my abdomen.

I glared at her with pure hatred and said through gritted teeth, "I will say this one last time. I am Lady Corinna. My mother is the King's sister! If you continue this madness, Declan will not only refuse to marry you, but he will also lose his own head."

I braced myself against the ground, breathing heavily.

"I advise you to check who you are provoking before you drag the entire Thorne family into their graves with you."

The woman let out a mocking laugh and snapped her whip across my back.

"I have seen shameless mistresses before, but never one this arrogant! Come look, everyone! Come see how disgusting this whore from The Velvet Orchid really is!"

A crowd had already begun gathering, and at her shout, people pressed in until the street was completely blocked.

Bystanders began whispering and pointing at me, throwing vile insults without hesitation.

"Look at her face. You can tell she is a seductive tramp who knows how to wrap men around her finger."

"That woman in red is truly pitiful. Her brave fiance got stolen away by a cheap whore. It is an absolute slap in the face."

"The women from The Velvet Orchid have terrifying tricks. Last time I went, the service was intoxicating, but it costs a fortune. I saved for six months just to afford half an hour in there."

Seeing the public turn entirely against me, the woman grew even more reckless.

She brandished her whip and commanded her men.

"Go on, strip her bare! Since The Velvet Orchid charges so much, today I will give the good citizens a free show!"

Her words instantly ignited the crowd's twisted curiosity, and people craned their necks to get a better view.

Panic seized my chest.

In my current state, I had no way to defend myself physically.

I yelled with all my remaining strength, "How dare you! If you doubt my identity, bring Declan here right now! Are you truly lawless enough to commit murder in broad daylight?"

The woman smirked proudly.

"Declan achieved monumental military victories at the frontier! I slaughtered over a hundred enemies myself and earned a royal military title. The King favors us deeply right now. Even if I strip you naked and beat you to death in the middle of the road, no one will dare utter a single word!"

The moment she finished speaking, she stepped forward and unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, lashing me repeatedly with her whip.

Within moments, my body was covered in bloody gashes.

My fine dress was ripped to shreds, soaked in crimson.

Even without them tearing it completely off, my bruised skin was barely covered.

Shame and fury burned inside me, but cold sweat poured down my forehead as the excruciating pain stole my breath away.

I could only wrap both arms tightly around my swollen stomach, curling into a tight ball on the dirt, trying desperately to shield my child.

Pearle sobbed hysterically, her tears streaming down like broken pearls as she thrashed against her captors to protect me.

With the cloth stuffed in her mouth, she could only emit muffled, agonizing wails.

Annoyed by her struggling, the guards slapped Pearle repeatedly across the face.

"Shut your mouth, bitch!"

Within moments, they beat her until she lost consciousness.

Feeling the sharp, tearing agony ripping through my womb, I gathered the last ounce of my strength and gasped, "Stop... please stop! I am carrying a baby... if you keep going, my child will die..."