Selene’s Story

“Shen Three,” I ordered, “lock every gate. Every side door. Every wall. If this estate has a dog hole, guard that too.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Mira, bring both concubines here.”

Before Mira could leave, Selene Lin arrived on her own.

Her steps were small.

Her handkerchief fluttered.

“Madam,” she cried, “you are the mistress. You must protect me.”

Now she remembered who was mistress.

Still, this was no time for petty revenge.

I let her in and poured tea.

“Do not be afraid,” I said. “Adrian left guards. This courtyard is safest.”

Her hands shook around the cup.

Mira returned soon after, face pale.

She stood behind me and whispered,

“Madam, Concubine Liu is not in her room.”

Lydia missing?

On this night?

I kept my expression still.

Selene noticed.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

We sat in tense silence.

Outside was too quiet.

No blades.

No reports.

Shen Three had not returned.

My eyelid twitched.

Then Selene spoke.

“Madam, may I ask how you met the general?”

I looked at her.

Why now?

Perhaps she only wanted distraction.

So I told her.

The street.

The restaurant.

The fish pie.

The boy who kept coming back.

Selene listened quietly.

When I finished, she asked,

“Did you know Lord Shen once intended to marry me?”

“I knew only that it was a daughter of the Lin family.”

She laughed softly.

“I was concubine-born. My father was Director of the Medical Academy. As a child, I loved medicine. I learned quickly. Too quickly. My legal mother killed my birth mother and took my baby brother to raise as hostage.”

Her voice did not tremble.

That made it worse.

“She took away my medical books. Filled my room with her servants. Told me if I behaved like a proper girl and never touched medicine again, she would treat my brother well.”

For the first time, I pitied her.

Then she continued.

“One day, I crawled through a dog hole and followed the smell of food to Feast Hall. I stood outside, starving. A young nobleman saw me.”

Adrian.

“He asked if I had trouble. I said I was hungry. He brought me inside and ordered a full table.”

Selene smiled faintly.

“I told him I could not pay. He said it was fine. Consider it his good deed for the day.”

I could almost see him.

That foolish, generous boy.

Then Selene’s gaze shifted to me.

“Then a bright girl ran in and called his name.”

I remembered nothing.

“You wore a simple dress,” Selene said. “Your eyes were full of light. You shouted, ‘Adrian, look what I made!’ He left me immediately and ran to you.”

Her fingers tightened around the cup.

“You were so alive. So loved. I hated you from that day.”

A strange dread rose in me.

“After Lord Shen returned from war, his father proposed marriage to the Lin family. My elder sister refused him because of his rumors with you. My legal mother sent me instead. I was happy. I made my wedding dress in secret.”

She looked down.

“Then he came back and asked the emperor to grant marriage to the Su family.”

My mouth went dry.

“Selene…”

“I thought, if the wife died, perhaps I would still have a chance.”

I stood so fast my chair fell.

“You killed my sister.”

Selene did not deny it.

My hairpin flashed in my hand.

I lunged.

My knees gave out.

The room spun.

My fingers went numb.

The tea.

She had drugged the tea.

Selene crouched before me as darkness crawled over my vision.

“Do not hate me too much, Madam,” she whispered.

Her voice came from very far away.

“Tonight, whether the prince succeeds depends on you.”