I shrugged and answered flatly, "I don't have the time or energy to do so. I don't love Cole anymore, so what good would it do me to snitch on you?"

"Really?" Shia asked suspiciously.

Maybe something in the calmness of my gaze convinced her, resulting in her tense posture gradually easing.

"Don't blame me," she continued, lowering her head. Her voice sounded weary. "I had no choice. He's my only way out, so I have to hold on tightly to him."

I was silent for a moment before giving her a small nod. "I hope you get what you want."

After that, I turned around and prepared to leave.

I had only taken a few steps when a powerful blast of magical force suddenly hit me from behind.

A deafening crash rang out as I was hurled off the magic steps, plummeting from midair and slamming into the ground.

It felt like my ribs had punctured my organs. The pain was so intense that I could barely breathe.

Looking up, I saw Shia descending the steps one by one with a cold, twisted smile on her face. Energy of the dark magic still danced at her fingertips.

"Sorry," she apologized softly when she stood above me. Her voice was gentle yet still icy. "I don't trust you, and I can't leave any loose ends. So, you have to go."

Then, she suddenly let out a piercing scream and collapsed beside me in a pool of blood, clutching her stomach and howling in agony.

Cole rushed over at the sound. His face drained of color the moment he saw the scene before him.

He carefully lifted Shia off the ground. "Shia, what happened?"

Tears streamed down her face as she gripped her abdomen tightly. "Cole! Lilian was jealous that I was carrying your child. She attacked me with dark magic! She wanted to kill our baby!"

My eyes widened, and I tried to speak up to defend myself.

However, Cole's eyes were bloodshot. He turned toward me with unmasked hatred in his eyes. He didn't even give me a chance to open my mouth as he raised his foot and kicked me hard in the chest.

The back of my head slammed against the cold ground, and darkness closed in.

I could feel blood pooling beneath me. The flow was getting heavier as my consciousness slipped away.

Just before I passed out completely, the last thing I saw was Cole running downstairs, holding a sobbing Shia in his arms without looking back.

His retreating figure was merciless and cold.

My world gradually sank into blackness.

…

When I next awoke, there was a heavy scent of herbs in the air around me.

A familiar voice choked out, "Lilian, you're finally awake!"

"Leena…" I croaked. My throat felt like sandpaper.

Leena gently helped me sit up. "You were unconscious for three days. I was scared to death."

Three days?

"Three…" I murmured. There was only a day left until the seven-day deadline.

Leena sobbed softly. "Lilian, did you know you had a miscarriage?"

The word struck me hard.

A miscarriage?

"Miscarriage…" My voice was barely audible. Tears began spilling from my eyes uncontrollably.

Leena looked at me with deep sympathy.

"You were pregnant for over a month, but you didn't know at all, did you? The baby hadn't stabilized yet, and…" Leena paused for a moment. "Lilian, you're still young and healthy. You'll have another chance."

I choked on my sobs, unable to catch my breath. It felt like every ounce of strength had been drained from my body.

Just as I had calmed down a little, the infirmary door slammed open with a violent bang.

Cole stormed in with a terrifyingly dark expression. His whole body seemed to radiate a bitter frigidity.

He walked in front of me and asked, "Why did you have to kill Shia's baby?"

My lips were pale as I weakly tried to explain, "I didn't hurt her! She used dark magic to push me down the stairs! She was never pregnant. Check with a healer if you don't believe me!"

Yet, it only caused Cole's fury to intensify. He suddenly reached out and grabbed my throat, stopping me from breathing and making my whole body tremble from the pressure.

"Lilian, you disgust me!" He growled through clenched teeth. His words dripped with hatred and loathing.

Cole dragged me off the bed without a hint of mercy, yanking my arm and pulling me toward the door.

"Cole, what are you doing? Let go of Lilian!" Leena cried out, rushing forward to stop him, but Cole shoved her aside.

"Cole, how could Lilian possibly hurt that woman? She doesn't even remember who she is. She lost her memory! And do you even know that she…" Leena shouted.

"Shut up!" he snapped murderously. "You traitor! Whose side are you on?

"That child would have been your family! If you dare side with her again, I'll report you and have you exiled to the wastelands!" Cole roared, ignoring all of Leena's pleas. He dragged me into the treatment room next door and threw me hard onto the ground.

I landed in a pathetic heap on the cold floor. Every injury flared up at once, and on top of it, the grief of losing my child made my tears spill uncontrollably again.

On the bed, Shia lay in apparent weakness. When she saw us entering, she slowly pushed herself upright. "Lilian, I know you're jealous that Cole loves me, but the baby in my belly was his child, too. How could you be so cruel?"

"The healer said it was a little girl who was already showing signs of magical energy…" She clutched her stomach, sobbing like her heart was breaking.

Cole immediately pulled her into his arms, full of pity. "We'll have more children! There, there, don't be sad."

I was pinned to the floor by two towering goblin guards, unable to move. All I could do was cry out in desperation, "She's not pregnant! She practices dark magic! Ask the healer for yourself!"

Cole glanced at me coldly and with disdain. "Do you think I'd believe your nonsense and suspect Shia?"

He spat out venomously, "You're still so unrepentant. Lilian, if you still want me to marry you, repent at the goblin cemetery for a full day to atone for what you did to my child! If not, leave and give Shia her rightful place as princess consort!"

A wave of helplessness surged up inside me, drowning me.

I clenched my jaw and forced back the tears that were burning behind my eyes. Calmly looking at Cole, I spoke with a tone of finality. "Alright, let that be the end of the years I've spent with you."

I used all the strength I had left to stand up from the floor and turned. Then, I walked out of the treatment room without ever looking back.

…

Cole watched my retreating figure, and for a fleeting moment, felt a pang of regret in his heart. He frowned as he tried to suppress that unfamiliar feeling.

He continued tending to the weeping Shia in his arms and didn't leave the room until deep into the night, feeling utterly exhausted.

When he returned to his now-empty residence, an unfamiliar panic gripped him.

"Lilian!" He suddenly called out, but no one answered.

He searched the entire palace but found no trace of me. Even my belongings had all vanished without a trace.

Frantic, he picked up the communication crystal and contacted Leena.

"Leena, is Lilian with you?" he asked urgently, his voice carrying a hint of panic.

There was silence on the other end before she replied with calm indifference, "Lilian? Didn't you say you were calling off the engagement? She's already gone."

"Gone? Where?" Cole choked.

He suddenly remembered all the cruel things he'd said at the treatment room earlier that day and felt his throat tighten. "I was just angry. Where could she have gone?"

Leena let out a cold laugh as she revealed with scorn, "She went to fulfill an arranged marriage. Right, I forgot to tell you. Right before you forced her to apologize to that woman with dark magic, Lilian had just lost your child."