Freya had stabbed Sebastian right in his lower abdomen.

When Selena arrived, she saw her brother lying in bed, barely clinging to life. The physician had already bandaged the wound. The trousers he had removed were soaked in blood.

With trembling hands, the physician said, "I fear that General Campbell may no longer sire children."

Selena's mind went blank.

Gideon Campbell, the Duke of Blackmoor and Selena's grandfather, led a household defined by unwavering loyalty and sacrifice. All three of his sons had fallen on the battlefield.

Thomas Campbell, Selena's father, was the eldest son and held the title Marquis of Whitgrave. When he died, he left behind only two children—Selena and Sebastian. Selena's two younger uncles had died young. One had gotten married just before going to battle but had no children, while the other had been unmarried.

That left Sebastian as the last male heir of their family. And with a single strike, Freya had ended the Campbell line for good.

Sebastian was a loyal and upright man, and that wretched woman had ruined his life!

Selena grabbed the dagger off the floor and rushed out.

"My lady! Don't be rash!" Sally called after her in worry, eyes rimmed red.

There was no need to seek out Freya, as Frederick was already dragging her into the courtyard.

"Let me go!" Freya yelled, her pride unbroken even as she fought to break free. She lifted her leg and kicked him sharply in the calf. "You scum! Release me at once!"

Frederick didn't flinch at the kick, but when he saw the dagger in Selena's hand, his face changed. "Lena..."

Without a word, Selena raised the blade and strode forward. She aimed a swift, fierce strike at Freya.

"What are you doing, Lena?" Frederick quickly caught her wrist, his voice urgent. "Let's talk this through."

Selena struggled to free herself. "She ruined my brother. There's nothing to talk about! She stabbed him once, so I'll return the favor!"

"Lena, it's all a misunderstanding. I'll take her to General Campbell myself to apologize."

"An apology?" Selena almost laughed, but there was no humor in her voice. "She destroyed my brother's life. Do you think an apology can make that right?"

"I won't apologize for a thing! So what if I was the one who struck the blow?" Freya glared at Selena, pride burning in her eyes. "Sebastian led the hunt that caused my father and brother's deaths. I only stabbed him once for that. He got off easy!"

"Your family rebelled and brought ruin. Countless innocents died at their hands. They deserved their fate," Selena countered.

When Frederick held Selena's wrist firmly, she lifted her head to meet his gaze with cold, red-rimmed eyes.

"My brother earned his honor by quelling the rebellion. He's a hero. And this woman? She's not only the daughter of a traitor but also a murderer of loyal men. Are you really going to protect her, Your Highness?" she said, her voice hoarse with anger.

"Lena, she's young. She doesn't understand—"

"She understands nothing, yet she knows how to bring utter ruin upon my family's legacy?"

For as long as Selena and Frederick had known each other, this was the first time they regarded each other with such icy disdain. She was usually patient and never argued with him. He often wondered if she even had a temper at all.

But this time was different. For the first time in his life, he witnessed her fury with his own eyes.

"No one from the Duke of Blackmoor's household can be bullied so easily," Selena said coldly, staring Frederick down even as he continued to keep a tight grip on her wrist.

Suddenly, she relaxed her fingers. The dagger slipped from her hand, but she caught it with her left hand and twisted her wrist sharply.

Freya's scream echoed through the room before she collapsed to the ground, trembling in violent spasms. It all happened so fast that even Frederick couldn't react in time. His face went pale with shock, and he quickly shoved Selena aside.

"Wretch!" he called out to Freya, gathering her into his arms.

Freya's chest was covered in blood. Selena's dagger had cut deeply, tearing through the girl's fragile body.

"Guards! Get a physician! Hurry!" Frederick shouted, his face still drained of color.

He immediately lowered his gaze and stared hard at Selena, not even noticing the flicker of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "She's just a young girl. Why are you so cruel to her? You've gone too far, Selena!"

The look Frederick gave Selena was like a knife to her heart. They had known each other for years and were to be married next month. Yet here he was, filled with murderous intent over a young woman he had known for less than half a month.

All their years of deep affection and loyalty suddenly seemed laughable in the face of that fleeting flash of deadly rage in his eyes.

She couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Are you seeking revenge for her, Your Highness?"

"I am a prince! You think I wouldn't dare?" Frederick hissed through gritted teeth, every word dripping with menace.

Sally panicked and rushed forward. "Your Highness, this has nothing to do with Lady Campbell. It was Ms. Talmar who attacked—"

"Begone!"

Frederick raised his foot and kicked Sally hard. She fell to the ground with a heavy thud, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Sally!" Selena snapped back to her senses and hurried over to help her maid up.

Sally tried to speak, but blood spilled from her mouth, leaving her unable to catch her breath. Eventually, her eyes rolled back as she fainted.

A panicked Selena shouted, "Sally! Wake up!"

Sally had been at her side since childhood. Though a maid, she was like a sister to Selena, who had long considered her as family.

When Frederick saw Selena's desperate fear, his anger finally began to subside. Since he rarely saw her so shaken, he instinctively moved to offer comfort.

But then, Freya whispered hoarsely, "S-scum... it hurts..."

Then, her head lolled to the side and she passed out.

Frederick stared down at her pale face and the blood steadily soaking through her clothes. Whatever pity he'd felt for Selena faded in an instant.

"Since you've already returned the blow, no one is to speak of this matter again. Anyone who dares do so will answer to me. Now... take Sally and see that she's properly cared for."

With that, he lifted the unconscious Freya into his arms and hurried away. Watching his anxious pace and the tension in his back, Selena understood how much he cared for the young woman he held. But she had no energy left to dwell on it.

That day, after settling Sally and ordering others to look after her, Selena stayed by Sebastian's side. When he woke around dusk, he said nothing, his expression blank and wooden.

Selena said nothing too, silently helping her brother drink some water, then gently laying him back down to rest. Refusing to speak, he closed his eyes. It wasn't until midnight that he opened them again, this time with a calmer gaze.

"Lena, that young woman now has Prince Frederick's favor. But he only sees her as an innocent girl, nothing more. Don't read too much into it. I can see clearly that his heart belongs to you alone," he said.

A sharp ache blossomed in Selena's chest. Even with everything, her brother was still thinking of comforting her.

When Selena said nothing, Sebastian continued in a hoarse voice, "Your wedding to Prince Frederick is set for the first day of next month. You've known each other for years. Don't let a simple misunderstanding defeat you."

"I'm fine, Seb. There's no need to comfort me."

Selena squeezed his hand and realized it was ice cold, just like her heart.

"Get well soon. There will definitely be a way in the future, I'm sure of it," she said softly.

"Alright."

He closed his eyes once more, but this time he turned his head slightly so the tears pooling at the corner of his eyes could fall unseen onto the pillow. He didn't want his beloved sister to see him cry.

Selena saw it clearly. But for the sake of his pride, she had no choice but to pretend she didn't notice.

For the next three days, she didn't see Frederick. It was only on the third night that he finally returned, his footsteps heavy as he entered the courtyard.

"Lena, I don't know what's come over me lately. Help me. I feel like I'm losing my mind."

Frederick was still the same man. Yet somehow, he didn't feel like himself anymore.

He was once a man so confident and full of fire, but he looked nothing like that tonight. As he faced Selena, he looked like a man troubled by love and weighed down with sorrow. He even seemed somewhat weary.

Selena poured him a glass of liquor.

Frederick had always come to her when something was on his mind, whether he was happy or troubled. Tonight, it was clear he was troubled.

After several stiff drinks, he finally looked at Selena and quietly asked, "How is your brother's injury?"

"It's better," Selena replied cooly, her face showing no emotion.

Frederick knew as well as she did that some wounds would never truly heal.

He gently took her hand in his. "Lena, please don't be angry with me. It was my fault that day. I shouldn't have been so harsh with you."

In truth, he had always treated her well over the years. He never got angry at her, and if he even spoke harshly to her, he'd immediately apologize. He also never used his status as a prince to lord over her, except for that one time three days ago.

Selena lowered her gaze and instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Frederick held on tighter.

"Lena, please don't be mad. I don't understand why I've changed like this."

"Changed how?" Selena asked as she looked up at him.

His face was marked by pain and confusion, and he looked utterly lost.

But he was Frederick, Warbringer of Aurensia. He had faced countless battles and weathered every storm without ever showing a flicker of doubt. Even if the very mountains fell around him, he would remain unshaken.

When had he ever seemed so troubled before?

Suddenly, he said, "Lena, my heart belongs only to you. It always has, and it always will. There will be no change to our marriage plans. Next month, we wed. From that day forward, I will love no one but you."

If this had been the old Frederick speaking, Selena might have felt deeply moved. But as she recalled the murderous gleam in his eyes directed at her that day, she suddenly felt that whatever he said no longer held much meaning.

"Are you upset?" Frederick's voice grew heavier as Selena stayed calm and silent.

She raised an eyebrow and asked in confusion, "Why should I be happy? Isn't that the promise you made to me previously? Why must you say it again now?"

Was he really saying those words to her, or was he trying to remind himself in a different way?

This time, Frederick avoided her gaze. After loosening his grip on her hand, he picked up his glass and took a slow sip.

Selena was running out of patience. She still needed to tend to Sally and Sebastian. Seeing her impatience only made Frederick's frustration grow. She had never behaved like this toward him before.

"Lena, can I share what's on my mind with you? Are we still like we used to be?" he asked.

Why had he loved Selena for all these years? Because no matter what he went through, she never left his side. When he was punished for crossing the king, everyone else quickly turned to flatter his brother, the fourth prince. But Selena stayed loyal, always by his side.

She was Frederick's safe harbor. No matter the storms he faced, returning to her was the only thing that brought him peace. And now, he hoped he could still find that comfort with her.

"Lena, I think... I might have fallen for that wretched woman."