Claire was sure to remain in her room for the rest of the day. Her sister has come in to gossip a little, but didn’t stay long.

And till she left, there was a very sheepish look on her face.

A meal was brought up to her by Lara herself. And the outspoken woman didn’t hesitate to let her know that the King had sent her himself.

"Now that the other Lady is gone, Milady, you should take up your arms once more."

Claire had to smile. "Take up my arms? Was this ever a fight?"

Lara leant over and organise a few things on her table, clearly looking for more reasons to overstay her welcome.

"When a man is involved, it is always a fight."

Claire thought about how good-natured Lady Plumette had been about everything and shook her head.

It hadn’t been a fight. Yeren didn’t love her and she clearly didn’t love him... or want him very much as it was.

Any other rival was insignificant as long as the King was unwed.

But she didn’t want him anymore.

She was tired of wanting what she could never have.

All she needed and wanted at such a point in her life was unending peace. And bless her soul, she would have it as soon as he could prove she was not with child.

"Lara?"

The older woman glanced at her with wide 00 as ayet eager eyes.

"Yes, my lady." Then she frowned when she saw that Claire had barely touched her own food.

She gingerly picked up the fork and knife and began to eat. The meat had been cooked very tenderly and the bread was fresh.

She had barely spoken a word to him the previous day, how then did he know that she hadn’t eaten?

"Do you know of any way to rid yourself of a child you do not have any intention of keeping?"

Lara’s eyes widened.

"I heard the rumors, but I thought them to be false. Well," She drew close and leant over such that clear could see the top of her ample bosom.

"Is it really true?" Lara said, sounding ecstatic.

"No." Claire crushed her hopes. When she realized that even she didn’t know for sure, she decided to humour the lady. "Perhaps, perhaps not."

"You don’t seem happy about it." The woman seemed to catch the hint - not that she was even trying to hide it.

She just had mixed feelings about it. It was a total disgrace and a very scandalous affair to be with child without a husband - and there was no hope of being married, hence her disappointment. But the thought of Yeren having to be obligated to her was another face of the coin to consider.

"You now have lands, my lady. You are a rich woman again. Propose to him if you have to."

Her mouth dropped open.

Propose to a man?

Whoever heard of that?

"You must have left your wits in the kitchen, Lara. Such talk is simply outrageous."

"I know, but what else is stopping you?"

Claire pondered her question before letting out a tired sigh.

He didn’t want her - that was what was stopping her.

If he did, he wouldn’t be ashamed to interact with her publicly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

But he had to abide by the law, didn’t her? But now that the law supported his marriage to her, why hadn’t he still proposed?

The answer was clear - he had never intended to in the first place. She was just a means of gratufication and satisfaction, and now that she was no longer a servant and suitable for such purposes, he would just find another.

"Some things are just better left to fate, Lara. I never thought I would own anything tangible again, but look at me. Mayhap I would marry him, mayhap I would not. But I would not dig my grave by trying to force something that is not meant to be."

Lara took a step back. The woman was apparently sad at her view of things but she could not be bothered.

Lara never bore the pain she did in the past few days so she was only judging the situations from na outsiders perspective.

The maid nodded and left quietly, only returning to retrieve the dishes when she was done.

Claire too felt sorry for herself, but it wouldn’t be for much longer, she hoped.

The very next day, it was new everywhere that Andon had left.

She had awoken very early, when the skies were still pitch black and caught sight of him saddling his horse outside.

He had looked up and waved when he sensed her presence.

Beside him was... the King.

Yeren had looked up as well, but she slipped away from the balcony without meeting his gaze.

She wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

Before long, the council would organise another match for him and he would agree to it as if she never existed.

Claire had never met a man without a shred of remorse...

Knowing that Andon was gone, the castle felt empty and devoid of life as she roamed the hallway in the afternoon. Having read so much, she knew that he could not return until the Crown sent an ambassador with a truce to pardon him for his crimes.

How utterly sad, she thought to herself.

He was even more righteous than Yeren, and yet he was being exiled because Yeren was protecting that blasted woman.

She swallowed down her anger and continued on.

But before long, she found herself in the private receiving room near the King’s grand study.

And lo and behold, he was seated inside on one of the cushioned stools.

There was no one else in the room when she glanced in at first, but on closer inspection, she noticed a painter with a canvas and palette and brushes at the other end.

Their eyes met across the distance before she could back away.

The room was very bright as all the drapes had been drawn to usher in the light.

"Aha. That is the perfect expression. Do hold it, Your Grace." The painter said, bending over to sketch something roughly with his brush.

Claire raised a brow in confusion.

Then she turned to leave.

"Please stay, dear, whoever you are. I have been trying to get the perfect expression all morning - his eyes were just too lifeless and blank... until you just arrived. I fear that if you leave, you might take whatever charm you brought along with you."

Then she glanced back at the man in question.

Her heart started beating very quickly.

What was that supposed to mean?