He Cheated, Now the Blood Pact Activates

The Nightshade Clan and the Slinter Clan were ancient enemies. Yet Augustine and I, the Prince and Princess of our rival clans, fell in love. We were Mates. Our love was a firestorm, defying all who stood against us. On the day we sealed our blood pact, Augustine held my hand and, with his own blood, made a solemn vow. "If I should ever betray you, may I suffer the agony of a thousand silver daggers to the heart. And may all the power of the Slinter Clan be yours." I looked at him then, my smile so full of happiness it felt like it could light up the night. On our 500th anniversary, Augustine filled an entire city with blood-red roses for me. But all I got was a photo from his human blood slave. In it, she was naked, her skin covered in the marks of a long night of sex. And the hand wrapped around her waist… I knew it instantly. My name was tattooed on the wrist. 【The Prince says he only feels true pleasure when he's fucking me.】 【He took me five times tonight. I'm afraid he won't have anything left for you. Sorry, Princess.】 I didn’t reply. I just quietly took out the blood pact. In seven days, I would hold him to his vow. Chapter 1 I sat in the study of our castle, the yellowed parchment clutched in my hand, a bitter smile on my lips. The ancient vampiric script glowed a deep crimson in the candlelight: "Should Augustine Slinter betray this pact, he shall suffer the pain of a thousand blades through the heart, and his family’s power, fortune, and title will pass in their entirety to Haley Nightshade." In the bottom right corner was a single, blood-red thumbprint. Augustine’s. All I had to do was press my own thumbprint beside it, and the pact would be sealed. My finger hovered over the parchment. I’d already pricked the skin. A bead of crimson blood was about to fall. Just then, a knock came at the study door. "My lady?" It was Clara, my most trusted confidante. "What is it?" She smiled. "I just wanted to remind you, my lady. Your birthday is in seven days." "Prince Augustine will surely throw you a grand celebration, just like every year." A celebration? In that instant, my plans changed. I decided I would prepare a gift for Augustine, too. One he would never forget. I would bring our 500-year bond to a spectacular end at a party everyone was watching. "I need you to prepare a few things for me. Something to be… revealed at the banquet," I said, then paused. "And I will be returning to the Nightshade Clan in seven days. Make the arrangements." Clara stared, stunned for a moment, before trying to gently reason with me. "My lady, perhaps you should reconsider?" There was another clause in the pact: "If he betrays his mate, Augustine shall be barred from Nightshade territory for all eternity." Once this was done, there was no turning back. But I nodded, my resolve firm. "I'm sure." After Clara left, I glanced at my constantly vibrating phone. On the vampire social network, everyone was buzzing about my 500-year anniversary with Augustine. He had apparently covered the entire city in my favorite blood-red roses and had even opened his private blood bank for a full day, all to celebrate our union. I walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window. The sight outside was indeed breathtaking. A tide of blood-red roses flooded every street, glowing ethereally under the moonlight. Comments scrolled by on the network feed. 【500 years and still so romantic!】 【Is this what being Mates looks like? I’m so jealous!】 【Prince Augustine is the definition of a perfect partner!】 A perfect partner? Before I received those messages, I would have thought so too. After all, Augustine remembered every important date. He planned thoughtful gifts. He even proposed a peace treaty to ease the tension between our clans… But a month ago, on a night Augustine said he was away handling some unrest, I suddenly received a message from his phone. It was a woman's voice. "The Prince says my blood is the best he's ever tasted." "He got me blood-red roses tonight, but I don't like them. To avoid waste, he said he'd give them to you as an anniversary gift." At the time, I didn't know who she was. I held on to a faint hope that it was all a misunderstanding. A week later, I saw her at Augustine’s side. Lucy. He introduced her with a calm expression. "Just a blood slave offered up by one of my vassals." "Don't worry, my love," he had whispered to me. "I only had them draw blood for me. I can't stand touching those wretched things." But I didn't miss the loaded glance they shared. In that moment, my mind went blank. And today, our anniversary, was the first one Augustine had ever missed. I knew where he was. Because I’d received another message from Lucy. It was a photo. She was lounging on silk sheets in black lacy lingerie, her body covered in fresh love bites. The most glaring detail was the blood-ruby ring on her hand. It was identical to the one on my ring finger. A matched set Augustine had forged with his own heart’s blood. There were only two in the entire world. 【The Prince says he only feels true pleasure when he's fucking me.】 【He took me five times tonight. I'm afraid he won't have anything left for you. Sorry, Princess.】 Augustine’s phone call came right after. "My dearest Haley, I'm so sorry I can't be with you tonight. I'm preparing a special surprise for you. You'll see it tomorrow, and I promise you'll love it. I love you, my queen." In the background, I could hear the faint sound of a woman's laughter and the whisper of sheets. "Of course," I heard myself say calmly. "I'll be waiting for your surprise." After hanging up, I stared out at the sea of blood-red roses. The vampires in the streets were still celebrating what they saw as "perfect love." And Augustine? He probably whispered those sweet nothings to me from Lucy's arms. Chapter 2 I stood before my vanity, the blood-ruby ring in my hand. For five hundred years, it had never left my finger. Augustine had said it was forged from his heart’s blood, one of a kind. But now, Lucy wore its twin. I clenched my fist, and the ring shattered. The crimson shards cut into my palm, my own blood dripping between my fingers. The pain was grounding. I then took out the scroll of our Mating pact and, without hesitation, ripped it to shreds. I placed the ring fragments and torn parchment into an elegant ebony box. On top, I placed a label I’d written myself: A Parting Gift. "Haley? My love, I'm home!" Augustine's voice, full of its usual warmth and affection, drifted up from downstairs. I quickly tucked the box into a corner and composed my expression. A few minutes later, he pushed open the study door, holding a lavish velvet box. He was still devastatingly handsome in the moonlight. "My love, I have a special surprise for you." He walked toward me and slowly opened the box. Inside lay a gem the size of a dove's egg, glowing with a soft, silvery light. It was perfectly clear, yet seemed to shimmer with a mysterious power. "The Tear of the Moon," he said, his voice laced with pride. "A legendary jewel said to hold immense healing power. It took me three whole months to secure it from an ancient family in Northern Europe." He knelt on one knee, his posture reverent and full of love. "I want to lay all the world's treasures at your feet, my queen. You deserve nothing but the best." Such beautiful words. Such a loving gesture. If I hadn’t caught the faint red smudge on his wrist—a stain that looked damningly like lipstick—I might have actually been moved. Disgusting. "It's beautiful. Thank you," I managed, forcing a small smile as I took the gem. Augustine stood, seeming to notice my mood. "What's wrong? You don't seem happy." "It's nothing." His eyes fell on the ebony box in the corner. "What's this?" He reached for it curiously. "You can't have it yet," I said, pulling the box back. "You'll get it in seven days, along with my second gift." "Seven days?" Augustine paused, then his eyes lit up in realization. "Gods, I almost forgot! Your birthday is in seven days!" He was instantly animated. "I'll send out the orders at once! We'll prepare the grandest celebration, invite all the noble houses, and—" In five hundred years, he had never forgotten my birthday. It seemed that human blood slave was taking up a lot of his energy. "Wait," I interrupted. "This year, I want to plan the party myself." He looked at me, puzzled. "Why? I always—" "Because I want us to have a truly 'memorable' birthday," I said, emphasizing the word. "Trust me, it will be a night no one will ever forget." He didn't question it. Instead, a fond smile spread across his face. "Of course. Anything you want. As long as you're happy." Just then, his phone rang. "Lord Augustine," a subordinate's respectful voice came through the speaker. "Have you forgotten tonight's arrangement? You and the lady were scheduled to attend the masquerade at the Rose Manor, to recreate your first meeting…" Augustine slapped his forehead. "Right! How could I forget our tradition!" He looked at me, guilt-ridden. "I'm so sorry, my love. I've been so swamped lately, it completely slipped my mind. Shall we go now?" The Rose Manor. The place we first met. A sacred spot we visited every anniversary. We were so innocent then, so in love. Augustine always used to plan for it weeks in advance. Now he needed his underlings to remind him. How ironic. Half an hour later, we arrived at the Rose Manor. The owner, a respected elder Prince, greeted us personally. "Augustine, Haley. Seeing you two always reminds me of my own youth," the elder Prince said with a kind smile. "Five hundred years, and your love is as sweet as ever." Augustine gallantly removed my cloak, his touch as gentle as if he were handling a priceless work of art. He then poured me a glass of blood-wine and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. The perfect, doting husband. "Look at you two," the elder Prince sighed. "It's truly something to envy. By the way, have you two considered siring an heir?" Chapter 3 Augustine looked at me lovingly, his eyes filled with deep affection. "We'll let nature take its course. Besides…" He paused, his voice growing even softer. "I want more time with just Haley. Our time alone is precious. I want to cherish every moment." Hearing this, I silently took a sip of my wine. The music began. The masquerade ball was starting. Everyone donned their ornate masks, just like on that fateful night five hundred years ago. Back then, Augustine and I both felt the mysterious pull between Mates, finding each other instantly in the crowded ballroom. Ever since, on our anniversary, we would recreate that moment. Augustine would always walk through the sea of masked women and, without hesitation, take my hand. It was our tradition. I put on my silver mask and walked to the center of the dance floor. As the familiar waltz began, everyone else started pairing up. I stood still, waiting for Augustine to find me, just like every other year. And then I saw him. Wearing a matching black mask, he started walking toward me. But just as he was three steps away, he stopped. A woman in a long, red gown approached him from the side, holding out her hand. I recognized that figure instantly. It was Lucy. I watched as Lucy leaned in and whispered something in his ear. A smile flickered across Augustine's face. He glanced around, as if checking to see if I was watching. Then, under the cover of his mask, he followed her out of the ballroom. Five hundred years of tradition, shattered by his own hand. I quietly used my power to create a bat familiar and sent it to follow them. They got into a black luxury car parked outside the manor. My familiar perched on the window, and I heard their conversation clearly. "What the hell are you doing here? This is reckless. I told you, Haley can't find out about you." Lucy's voice was a whiny pout. "But it hurts. The thought of you spending your anniversary with her… the thought of you two making love later… it makes my skin crawl." Augustine chuckled, trying to soothe her. "You're mine. What are you so worried about? You know where I like you best." Rage and humiliation nearly made my familiar lose its form. "Really?" Lucy giggled. "Then what about your promise to give me The Embrace?" "I'll do it tonight. Happy now?" Augustine's voice turned husky. "I'll drain you dry tonight. That should keep you from getting needy and pulling a stunt like this again." Lucy laughed and threw herself into his arms. The sound of wet, sloppy kisses filled the car. Fighting back my nausea, I recorded it all and recalled my familiar. Back in the ballroom, the other guests had sensed the crushing weight of my fury and had tactfully cleared out. Half an hour later, Augustine rushed back. Seeing the empty hall and my pale face, he immediately looked frantic. "Haley! What happened? Why are you all alone? Where did everyone go?" He strode toward me. "I just got an urgent report from my men. A border dispute with another clan. I had to handle it personally. I'm sorry I left you alone…" "Enough," I cut him off coldly. "I'm tired. I'm going home." Without waiting for a reply, I teleported away from the manor. Augustine followed me back to the castle, his face a mask of worry and confusion. "Was it because I left to handle clan business? Because I didn't dance with you?" I looked up, staring directly into his eyes. His face was full of concern and self-reproach, but not a shred of guilt from his tryst. "Yes." Augustine sighed. "That was my mistake. From now on, no matter how urgent it is, I will always put you first." He paused, then took my hand, asking carefully, "I just got another call from my men. An allied clan is under attack by werewolves. I have to go, Haley. You understand, don't you?" I caught the flash of anticipation and excitement in his eyes, hidden beneath a facade of weary obligation. So eager to give Lucy The Embrace, were you? I forced a thin smile, too tired to call him on his lie. I just gave a quiet "Mm." The moment he left, I dissolved into a black mist and followed him. He went straight to the most luxurious hotel in the city and entered the presidential suite on the top floor. I slipped through a crack in the window as a wisp of fog, hiding in the shadows. Lucy was already waiting for him. She wore a set of sheer black lace lingerie, her eyes smoldering as she looked at him. "My Prince, I've been waiting for so long," she cooed. "You said you'd give me The Embrace tonight." "Of course, my little demon," Augustine said, walking toward her, his eyes full of lust. They embraced and kissed, his hands roaming her body. I fought back my disgust, my phone steadily recording the scene. "I'm going to take a shower. Wait for me, and we'll begin," Augustine murmured, kissing her neck. After he went into the bathroom, Lucy picked up her phone, a triumphant smirk on her face. A few seconds later, my phone buzzed with a notification. A location pin, showing this exact hotel. A second message followed immediately. "Tonight, he's giving me The Embrace. I will be his, forever." Chapter 4 Ignoring the ache in my chest, I remained silent in the shadows and kept watching. Augustine emerged from the bathroom with only a towel around his waist, water droplets tracing paths down his chiseled chest. "Ready to be mine forever, my love?" he asked, his voice low and sensual as he approached Lucy. She nodded shyly and untied the strings of her bra. "I've been ready for so long, Augustine. I want to be yours forever." They came together, and Augustine’s fangs sank into her neck. Blood trickled down her pale skin, but she didn't cry out in pain. She let out a soft moan of pleasure. The ritual of The Embrace was performed with the most primal act of union. Augustine drank her blood while they writhed together, their bodies entwined. They even moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, letting the pedestrians below catch shadowed glimpses of their intimate dance. Lucy seemed to revel in the thrill of being watched, pressing herself against the glass to expose more of her body. "Look, Augustine, they're all watching us," she purred. "They must be so jealous that I have the love of a vampire Prince." Augustine chuckled darkly, his movements becoming more feral. "Let them watch." I calmly recorded every second of it. Then I sent the video to Clara with a short message: "Play this at the banquet." Clara’s reply was swift: "Understood." Next, I sent a message to the elders of the Nightshade Clan. "In seven days, I am returning home." The High Elder, Damien, sensed something was wrong immediately. "Did Augustine betray you?" "Yes." "Damn him!" Damien’s reply was a furious curse. "I always said you couldn't trust a Slinter! Haley, you know the Nightshade Clan will always be your home." The other elders sent messages of comfort, their words filled with disgust for Augustine and sympathy for me. In the hotel room, the two were still lost in their sordid ritual. I had seen enough. I slipped out of the hotel unnoticed. Late that night, Augustine finally returned to the castle. He reeked of Lucy’s perfume and the unmistakable scent of sex. He hadn't even bothered to hide the bite mark on his neck—a mark Lucy had left in the throes of passion. He thought I was asleep, that I wouldn't notice such details. He wrapped his arms around me tightly, whispering with false emotion, "Haley, I love you so much." His hand stroked my hair. "Promise me you'll never leave me, alright? I can't lose you. I absolutely can't." As he spoke, I could clearly smell the other woman on him. Hypocrite. The next day, Augustine left again, this time with the excuse of a clan council meeting. "It will probably run late. I might not be back until late tonight," he said, kissing my forehead. "Get some rest. Don't wait up for me." I nodded, watching him go. Five minutes later, I was following him again. Augustine didn't go to the council chambers. He drove to an old church on the outskirts of the city. Lucy was already there, dressed in a pure white gown. "Augustine!" She threw herself at him, pouting like a little girl. "I thought you weren't coming." "How could I not?" He stroked her head fondly. "Now tell me, why did you want me to meet you at a church?" Lucy bit her lip, putting on a wounded expression. "I know I'm just your lover. I can't compare to Haley. But…" She paused, tears welling in her eyes. "Can't I have a ceremony of my own? Even if it's just for show, just something to make me feel like I have a place in your heart." She clutched his hand tightly. "I won't compete with Haley for anything. I just want a ceremony to prove my love for you. Is that too much to ask?" Augustine was silent for a long time, conflict warring in his eyes. Finally, he sighed. "Alright. If it will make you happy." Lucy's tears vanished, replaced by a radiant smile. She stood on her toes and kissed him. "I knew you cared about me the most!" Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from my best friend, Lila. "Babe, where are you?" I didn't hide anything. I told her everything that had happened. Seconds later, she called, her voice seething with rage. "What? That bitch dared to humiliate you like that? Where are you? I'm coming over right now to gut her with a silver dagger!" "Calm down, Lila," I stopped her. "It's not time yet. I have a much better plan." Inside the church, everything was ready. A priest stood at the altar. Augustine and Lucy stood before him, hand in hand. Lucy was wearing a white wedding gown and a veil, looking every bit the bride. The priest began the rites. "Do you, in the presence of God, wish to pledge your eternal vows?" I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Augustine gazed at Lucy, his voice soft and heartbreakingly tender. "Lucy, will you spend eternity with me?" Chapter 5 Tears of joy streamed down Lucy's face as she answered with a trembling voice, "I do! Augustine, of course I do!" The priest beamed. "May God bless this union and grant you many children!" Watching this absurd ceremony, I was thrown back five hundred years to my own wedding. Before this very same kind of altar, Augustine had knelt on one knee and said to me with that same deep love in his eyes, "Haley, will you be my mate for all eternity?" The same look, the same tone. A cold laugh escaped my lips, but my eyes betrayed me, filling with tears. So, to Augustine, our five-hundred-year love was just a script he could reuse. A different woman, a different day, but the performance remained the same. I fought to control my emotions, recorded the entire scene, and sent it to Clara. In the church, Augustine was kissing Lucy, holding her as if they were truly newlyweds. Back at the castle, I began to pack. The room was filled with five hundred years of memories: photos of us, gifts he'd given me, souvenirs from our travels… One by one, I tossed them into the fireplace. The flames consumed the things I once treasured, just as they were consuming my past. Finally, I picked up our portrait. It had been painted by the most famous artist of the time. In it, we were locked in a tight embrace, our eyes full of love. I ripped the canvas in two and threw Augustine’s half into the fire. Just then, my phone rang. It was Lucy again. "We took vows before a priest today. He said I'm his wife now, too." "So what if you're the Princess? He's mine, too." I still didn't reply. As I was about to leave the room, a sharp, violent pain shot through my chest. It was a tearing agony, as if someone was repeatedly stabbing my heart with a silver knife. I clutched my chest and collapsed to the floor, curling into a ball of pain. The old wound. It was acting up. A hundred years ago, Augustine had been struck by a silver dagger in a battle with werewolves. He was on the brink of death. To save him, I had given him a massive amount of my own heart's blood, pulling him back from the edge. I survived, but ever since, my heart would occasionally seize with this excruciating pain. Only Augustine’s blood could soothe it. With a trembling hand, I dialed his number. One ring, two, three… No answer. I gritted my teeth and dialed again. The pain intensified, and my vision began to blur. Finally, the call connected. I was about to speak when I heard Lucy's whining voice. "Augustine, I feel so awful… being a new vampire hurts all over…" "Shh, I'll help you feel better," he cooed back at her. I heard rustling on the other end. He was clearly comforting her, completely unaware that the call was connected. I opened my mouth, wanting to tell him my old wound had flared up, that I needed his blood. But as another wave of agony crashed over me, I passed out on the cold floor, my world fading to black. When I woke up, I was in a bed at the vampire hospital, the sterile scent of disinfectant filling my nose. The first thing I saw was Augustine’s face, etched with worry and fear. He sat by my bedside, his eyes full of guilt. He looked haggard. "Haley, you're finally awake!" he said, gripping my hand. "The doctors said you almost…" His voice broke. "It's all my fault. If I had been with you, this wouldn't have happened." Looking at his hypocritical face, I asked in a hoarse voice, "Who were you with?" Chapter 6 For a split second, panic flashed across Augustine's face, but he quickly composed himself. "I was in negotiations with the Rhine Clan representatives," he explained softly. "You know how tricky the recent territory disputes have been. They required my personal attention." He gently caressed the back of my hand. "Thank the gods Clara found you and called me immediately. The moment I got the news, I dropped everything and rushed over." His voice trembled. "Haley, I can't lose you. You know you're the most important person in my life." He even had tears welling in his eyes as he said it. If I hadn't personally heard him with Lucy just moments before, I might have been moved by his heartfelt performance. I closed my eyes, unable to look at his deceitful face any longer. "I'm a little tired," I said weakly. Augustine placed a soft kiss on my forehead. "Then get some rest. I have to take care of a few urgent matters, but I'll be back to stay with you soon." The moment his footsteps faded down the hall, Lila burst in. "Haley!" She rushed to my bedside and squeezed my hand. "I heard your old wound acted up. You scared me to death! How are you feeling?" I gave a bitter smile. "Still breathing." Lila’s expression hardened with fury. "Haley, I just saw that woman you told me about! She's on the third floor, in the maternity ward." "I saw her holding a bloodline report from the clinic, and Augustine looked ecstatic. He was muttering things like 'I'm finally going to have an heir' and 'this is a gift from the heavens.'" A strange silence fell over the room. Lila looked at me, worried. "Haley, are you okay? You've gone pale." But I was unnaturally calm. I even started to laugh. The sound was jarring in the quiet hospital room, startling even Lila. "Haley, you…" "Lila, I'm going to tell you a secret," I said with a smirk. "A hundred years ago, Augustine and I tried for a child. For a whole year, nothing happened. We finally got tested. It turned out that during his fight with the werewolves, it wasn't just his heart that was damaged. His bloodline was permanently corrupted." Lila's eyes went wide. "You mean…" "He lost the ability to have children," I said, looking her straight in the eye. "But to protect his dignity and authority as a Prince, I had the family physician conceal the truth. We announced that my body was too weak and needed long-term recovery." Lila covered her mouth in shock. "Gods, Haley… so now…" "Now, he's celebrating a child that isn't his," I said, and this time, a real laugh escaped me. For a hundred years, I had protected his secret with my own reputation. Now, it seemed, there was no longer any need. Furious, Lila paced the room. Suddenly, she stopped, a wicked glint in her eye. "I have an idea. After that Lucy bitch has the baby, let's mail Augustine the bloodline test results. I want to see the look on his face." I nodded, and we shared a dark smile. The next afternoon, Clara came to the hospital to give me a report. She seemed to be struggling with something, opening her mouth to speak several times before closing it again. "Just say it, Clara. What happened?" Clara took a deep breath. "My lady, yesterday I saw… that woman, Lucy. She was wearing your nightgown and has moved into the master bedroom of the castle." Even though my heart felt like it had turned to ash, a sharp pain lanced through it at her words. That master bedroom had been our sanctuary for five hundred years. And now, Augustine couldn't wait to give it all to Lucy. "I see." Clara looked at my face, her own eyes turning red. "My lady…" "It's alright, Clara," I said, patting her hand. "It will all be over soon." As night fell, Augustine arrived. He carried a bouquet of red roses, his face a perfect mask of concern. "How are you feeling? The doctor says you can be discharged soon." He sat by the bed. "I've had the kitchen prepare your favorite restorative blood soup. It will be waiting for you when you get home." Looking at his charade of a devoted husband, I suddenly wanted to rip the mask off. "Augustine," I began softly, "I want to ask you something." "Anything, my love." I looked him straight in the eye. "Have you betrayed me?" For a second, his expression faltered, as if someone had suddenly choked him. But the look vanished in an instant, replaced by one of confusion. "Why would you ask that, my love?" Chapter 7 I watched the subtle panic in Augustine's eyes, the pain in my chest turning to numbness. "I'm probably just overthinking things, being weak like this," I said, forcing a smile. "Augustine, if I were to leave you one day, what would you do?" Hearing this, his expression visibly relaxed. He even let out a small chuckle. "You silly thing, why would you even think that?" He gently stroked my hair. "We are Mates, our souls are bound. I would never, ever let you leave me. Not ever." His tone was so confident, so possessive, as if I were merely a piece in his collection, something that could never escape his grasp. Augustine kissed my forehead and left, claiming he had some urgent business to attend to. The moment he was gone, I sent out my bat familiar to follow him. When the bat reached the window of our master suite, I saw a sickening sight. Lucy was pouting at our dining table, pushing away a crystal goblet. "I don't want to drink this. It's too gamey, and the color is so dark. It must not be fresh." Augustine sat beside her patiently, feeding her with a spoon like a child. "There, there. This is very precious blood. You're carrying a child now, you need the nourishment." "But I really can't stomach it," Lucy whined, shaking his arm. "Then I'll drink it with you, how about that?" he said with a doting smile. "You have to be a good girl, for our child." The tenderness he showed her was identical to the tenderness he used to show me. "After the child is born," he continued, "I'll have Haley raise it as her own. It will be our heir." Lucy's expression soured. "It's the only way for the child to have a legitimate claim," Augustine explained. "Haley is my rightful mate. Only a child raised by her can inherit the title of Prince." Hearing that, I almost burst into the room to tear their faces off. So, in Augustine's grand plan, I was not only supposed to be the clueless, cheated-on wife, but also the adoptive mother to his lover's child. He was grinding my dignity into the dirt. After they finished the blood, Augustine summoned the castle servants and gave them a stern warning. "Lucy has just completed her transformation. Her emotions may be unstable, so you must be patient with her. Also," his voice turned menacing, "no one is to breathe a word of her presence here to the lady. Do you understand?" The servants nodded fearfully. Three days until the end. Augustine came to the hospital with a bottle of precious unicorn blood. "I had a friend in Northern Europe procure this for me. It will do wonders for your old wound," he said, presenting it to me like a trophy. Unicorn blood was indeed rare and powerful, worth a fortune on the black market. But what I had seen through my familiar was the truth: yesterday, Lucy had complained that the unicorn blood was too sweet, took a few sips, and pushed the rest away. This was what he brought to me. "Thank you," I said, my face a blank mask as I took the bottle. That evening, Clara reported, "My lady, everything for the banquet is ready." I nodded. "You've worked hard." Two days left. Augustine brought me an exquisite crown as an early birthday present. "I had this crown custom-made. It's one of a kind, crafted entirely by hand," he said apologetically. "I accidentally shattered your old one. I'm so sorry." I examined the crown. It was beautiful, but clearly a rush job. The craftsmanship was nowhere near that of my original. And again, my familiar had shown me the truth. Yesterday, Lucy had seen my crown and whined that she wanted it. Augustine had given it to her without a second thought. "It's lovely," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. After Augustine left, Clara secretly told me, "My lady, Prince Augustine has purchased the Cherry Blossom Manor behind the castle at a high price. They say it's a gift for her pregnancy." I let out a cold laugh. "How generous of him." The final day. Augustine came to pick me up from the hospital himself. "The banquet starts at seven tonight. Remember to be there," he said gently. "I'm so looking forward to this 'memorable' party you've planned." I smiled back. "I promise, it will be a night you'll remember for the rest of your life." Back at the castle, I found a pair of black lace stockings in the master bedroom. Obviously left behind by Lucy. I threw them in the trash without a second thought. Just then, Augustine's phone rang. He answered, and his face immediately tensed. "What? Stomach pains? I'm on my way!" After hanging up, he turned to me, flustered. "Haley, something urgent has come up. I might be a little late to the banquet. You go ahead and get ready. I'll be there as soon as I can." As he turned to leave, I didn't try to stop him. I just watched his retreating back and said, very quietly, "Augustine, goodbye."