The Ashes of House Harcourt

After my entire family was executed by slow slicing, I became the sensible, understanding wife Tristan Blackwood had always wanted. I stopped asking where he went. I stopped screaming at him to send his widowed sister-in-law away. When he said he wanted to take her as a second lawful wife to carry on his late brother's line, I calmly agreed. On their wedding day, I accepted the cup of tea Sabine offered me and, with a smile, handed her a marriage blessing. Tristan grabbed me by the throat and roared in fury. "Elowen, you know I earned that blessing for you, kneeling and bowing at every step of the way! Why would you give it to someone else? "Do you still blame me for not saving your father and brothers? "Is this how you're punishing me? How long are you going to keep this up?" His eyes were full of pain, but my smile was calm. He was the one who used my whole family's lives to force me into obedience. I was only giving him what he wanted. What he didn't know was that I was waiting. Right now, the remains of my entire family hung from the city gates for all to see. In three more days, I could finally collect their bodies. And on that same day, I would join my father and brothers, who had died wronged. Chapter 1 Tristan Blackwood's grip was so strong that I tasted blood. Everything inside me trembled with pain, but I only closed my eyes and didn't struggle at all. He held on until blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. Then he suddenly let go. His eyes were bloodshot, and even his voice carried a trace of pain. "Elowen, I'm only taking Sabine as a second wife so my brother's line won't die out! "Don't worry. Even if you're both lawful wives, I'll never let her rise above you! "In this house, you'll come first and she'll come second. I promise you, once she's carrying an heir, I won't set foot in her room again. All right?" He looked at me, full of hope. All I felt was regret. He'd been so close to snapping my neck. Then I would have gotten my wish and joined my father and brothers, who had died so horribly. Perhaps the indifference in my eyes stung him, because Tristan's expression suddenly turned cold. "Elowen, how many times do I have to say it before you understand? "Your father and brothers committed treason. They colluded with the enemy! Even if I'd stepped in, I could never have saved them! "I know you resent me, and I've done everything I can to protect your dignity. How long are you going to keep this up before you're satisfied? "We grew up together, and we've been devoted to each other since the day we married. Do you really have to make things this ugly?" I wiped the blood from my lips, unable to hold back a mocking smile. A childhood romance couldn't compete with a newly widowed sister-in-law. For all our devotion, he'd stood by and watched House Harcourt be falsely accused and executed down to the last man. He really had protected my dignity. When I married into House Blackwood, my bridal procession stretched for miles, and the whole capital talked about it. On our wedding night, he held me with trembling hands and promised I'd be the only woman in his life, forever. Yet this same man, not even two years into our marriage, began taking his widowed sister-in-law's side at every turn. At first, I thought he only looked after Sabine Vale because he pitied her. Then I accidentally walked in on the two of them tangled together in her bed. I stormed in without a second thought and slapped Sabine hard across the face. When Tristan saw her swollen, red cheek, he flew into a rage. He kicked me away and pulled her into his arms, his eyes full of tenderness. But when he turned back to me, his gaze was ice. "Elowen, with jealousy like yours, how are you fit to be the lady of House Blackwood?" My mouth was full of blood, but I hated him so much I ground my teeth. "Tristan, you're sleeping with your own brother's widow. How dare you call me jealous?" He only gave me a cold look. "Men take more than one woman all the time. Besides, I'm not even taking a mistress. I only want to give Sabine a child so her future will be secure. What's wrong with that?" Every word was a knife to the heart. I was shaking with rage. Back in my room, I bit my finger open and wrote a letter in blood, hoping my father and brothers would get justice for me. But justice never came. Instead, I received news that my father and brothers had been falsely accused and thrown in prison. The night before the execution, I knelt outside Sabine's door, crying until my voice was hoarse, begging Tristan to spare my family. The only answer was the sound of the two of them enjoying each other without restraint. Only after my knees were covered in blood did Tristan finally appear, his arm around Sabine. He looked down at me, his eyes full of scorn. "Elowen, you used to be General Harcourt's spoiled, willful daughter. Now you're the daughter of a traitor! "Maybe it's for the best. At least now you can't use your status to bully Sabine." Ignoring my screams, he had someone knock me unconscious and carry me back to my room. When I woke, it was already broad daylight. I stumbled all the way to the execution ground, and all I found were pieces of flesh scattered across the ground. Every member of House Harcourt had been executed by slow slicing. After that day, all the fight went out of me. Just as he wanted, I became sensible and understanding. He'd probably never guess that all I wanted now was to die. In three days, I would be allowed to collect my family's remains. Once my father and brothers were buried, I would disappear from Tristan's life for good. Chapter 2 Sabine clutched the marriage blessing, mortified, crying as pitifully as she could. Tristan had obtained that blessing back when he was asking for my hand. He'd climbed all the way to the shrine, kneeling and bowing at every step, to pray for it. Back then, his eyes full of devotion, he'd placed it in my hand and promised to spend the rest of his life with me. These past few years, he'd let Sabine take everything from me. The jewelry in my room, the food I loved... Whatever caught her eye, Tristan would force me to hand over. The marriage blessing was the only exception. No matter how much Sabine cried and fussed, he'd never once pressured me to give it up. I never imagined I'd one day give it to her myself. I looked up and met Tristan's dark gaze. "Elowen, I know you're hurting. If you're upset, hit me, yell at me, whatever you want. Why play these games?" Ignoring Sabine's sobs, he snatched the blessing back and held it out to me. "I earned this for you, so it belongs to you and no one else. Keep it safe, and don't ever give it away again!" I didn't take it. I just stepped back and looked at him, expressionless. "You're overthinking this, my lord. I wouldn't dare blame you, and I'm not playing any games. "Today is your wedding day with Lady Sabine. I only wish you both a happy marriage and a son very soon!" Tristan stared at me in disbelief, anger rising in his eyes. "Fine. Just fine! I had no idea you'd become so generous! "Since you're being so reasonable, I'd hate to refuse your kindness! "Someone pack up all my things. From today on, I'm moving into Moonfall Court!" Moonfall Court was where Sabine lived. In the past, if he so much as set foot there, I'd chase after him and make a tearful scene. Now I only bowed respectfully. "As you wish, my lord." My compliance only made him angrier. He kicked me hard, knocking me to the floor. "Elowen, stop pretending to be the perfect wife! "You think if you act like this, I'll feel guilty enough to clear your father's and brothers' names?" I sprawled on the floor, my mouth full of blood. But I couldn't help laughing. Clear their names? Every member of House Harcourt was nothing but rotting flesh now. What would clearing their names even mean? I swallowed the pain, struggled up, and knelt in front of him. "Please calm down, my lord. I meant nothing of the sort. "You and Lady Sabine love each other, and your wedding night is precious. I simply didn't want to intrude." Tristan clenched his jaw and let out a cold laugh. "Good. Well said! "Since you're so generous, you can wait on us yourself tonight!" Right in front of me, he swept Sabine into his arms, kicked me aside, and carried her straight into the bedroom. Curled up against his chest, Sabine looked at me with pure triumph. As they passed, she even mouthed a taunt at me: "Bitch, what makes you think you can compete with me?" In the past, I'd have lunged at her and torn her mouth apart. Now I only lowered my eyes and smiled bleakly. She had no idea. A dying woman had no energy left to fight her for his affection. I staggered after them. He'd kicked me so hard that my ribs had broken. Every movement sent searing pain through me. The moment I opened my mouth, I threw up a mouthful of dark blood. Tristan didn't care at all. Stone-faced, he made me undress him and Sabine. I knelt numbly beside the bed and watched them do whatever they pleased right in front of me. The bed shook all night long, and I knelt all night long. Maybe my injuries were too severe. Before dawn, I coughed up a mouthful of blood and passed out. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my own room. Tristan stood tall beside my bed. When he looked down at me, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes. "Elowen, I was furious yesterday. That's the only reason I raised a hand to you. "I admit I went too far. But it's your fault too. You know how hard I hit, so why didn't you stay out of reach?" A sneer tugged at my lips. I forced myself to sit up and apologize. But Tristan leaned down and pressed on my shoulders. "Don't move, Elowen. The physician says you're three months pregnant. The pregnancy isn't stable, so you need rest!" That one sentence left me stunned. Once, I'd longed more than anything for a child of my own. But in our second year of marriage, Tristan and I were attacked by bandits on our way up the mountain to pray for blessings. To save him, I took an arrow straight through my lower abdomen. The physician said I'd probably never be able to conceive. I never imagined that the child I couldn't have, no matter how many gods I knelt before, would quietly come to me just when I'd set my heart on dying. Chapter 3 A sudden surge of hope rose inside me, and tears wet my lashes. House Harcourt had been wiped out. The child in my womb was the only bloodline it had left. But before I could even feel happy, Tristan had someone bring in a draught to end the pregnancy. "Elowen, you can't keep this child! "Don't blame me. I promised Sabine a child to secure her future, and the heir of House Blackwood can only be hers! "Once she gives birth to the heir, I'll come back to your bed right away. You're still young. As long as you take care of yourself, we'll definitely have our own children someday!" He took the bowl and bent down, as if he were doing me a great favor, to feed it to me himself. I shuddered and knocked the bowl out of his hand. "Tristan, this is your child too! How can you do this to me? "You said my father and brothers deserved to die. You refused to save them, and I had no choice but to let them be sliced to death! "Why do you have to finish us off? Why won't you even spare the baby in my womb?" Everything I'd been holding back finally broke, and I screamed at him with everything I had. Tristan froze. For once, a hint of guilt surfaced in his eyes. Before he could say anything, the door burst open. Sabine rushed in, her face streaked with tears, and dropped to her knees right in front of me. "Elowen, this is all my fault. Please don't blame Tristan! "He was afraid you'd be upset, so he didn't tell you. The truth is, I'm pregnant too! "He's only afraid that if my child isn't the heir, we'll be mistreated someday. That's why he's forcing you to get rid of the baby! "If you don't want to, that's fine. I'll drink the draught instead! "All I ever wanted was to serve him alongside you. Even if I can't have a child of my own, it doesn't matter! "Please don't fight with him because of me. If it ends up hurting him, I'd rather leave this house!" She cried so pitifully that Tristan's own eyes reddened with heartache. He pulled her into his arms and looked at me with nothing but reproach. "Elowen, when will you ever be as gracious and well-mannered as Sabine? "Even she knows to put the family first. You're the daughter of a traitor. What right do you have to make a scene? "Someone hold my wife down. I'll pour the draught down her throat myself!" The moment he said it, people rushed forward and pinned me down. Despite all my injuries, I fought with everything I had. "Let go of me! I'd rather die than drink that! "Tristan, why are you so set on destroying my entire family? Why won't you even spare your own child? "The baby in my womb is the last blood of House Harcourt. I'm begging you, please spare the child! "If you'll spare the baby, I'll leave this house of my own accord. I don't want to be your wife anymore. Sabine can have my place!" Tristan gritted his teeth, his eyes ice-cold. "Elowen, do you really hate being my wife that much? "You gave away the marriage blessing, and now you want to give away your place as my wife too!" His eyes were bloodshot, his smile chilling. "Fine. Then there's even less reason to keep the child. Hold her down!" Ignoring my cries, he bent down, gripped my jaw, and poured another bowl of scalding draught into my mouth. My throat filled with the taste of blood, and he tossed me back onto the floor. The next moment, a pain tore through my lower belly, as if someone were gouging it out. I curled into a ball and screamed, unable to stop. Blood gushed out from between my legs. Maybe my screams were too horrifying, because Tristan pulled me into his arms with trembling hands. But then Sabine clutched her belly and shrieked. "Tristan, there's so much blood! I'm so scared!" Tristan panicked at once. He let go, letting me fall hard to the floor. He turned and blocked the physician, who was about to come treat me. "Elowen's always been tough. She'll be fine. See to Sabine first!" Even covered in blood, I couldn't earn a shred of pity from him. Before he walked out the door, he looked back at me. "Elowen, get some sleep. You'll be fine. "I promise, once Sabine gives birth to the heir, I'll find a way for us to have another child." I closed my eyes and let the tears fall. He was the one who had snuffed out my only reason to keep living. Now there were only two days left until I could collect my family's remains. Tristan, there would be no future for us. Chapter 4 I collapsed on the floor and drifted into a heavy sleep. In my daze, it was as if I'd gone back to the early days of our marriage. Back then, Tristan had eyes for no one but me. He tucked flowers into my hair and painted my brows. When his mother made things hard for me, he'd stand in front of me and tell me I didn't need to fear anyone. I'd never once doubted his love. But love can change in the blink of an eye. When I woke, my face was wet with tears, but my heart had gone completely, deathly still. I was still clutching the marriage blessing. I got up and opened my vanity box. Inside lay the brush he'd used the first time he painted my brows, and the wooden hairpin he'd carved for me with his own hands. One life, one love. Looking back now, what a joke. I gathered up everything I'd once treasured so dearly and stumbled out to the courtyard with it all in my arms. Without hesitation, I threw it all into the brazier and watched it turn to ash. The next moment, someone kicked the brazier over. Tristan's eyes were bloodshot. Ignoring the burning coals, he lunged forward and dug out the half-burned marriage blessing with his bare hands. "Elowen, why are you burning our things?" A cold smile rose to my lips. "I told you yesterday. I'm leaving this house. "These tokens of fake affection are useless. Better to burn them all and be done with it!" Tristan's pupils shrank. "Elowen, you really want to divorce me?" I smiled mockingly. "Not a divorce. This is—" Before I could tell him it was a parting by death, the courtyard gate flew open. Greta, Sabine's maid, ran in crying and dropped to her knees in front of Tristan. "My lord, Lady Sabine's stomach hurts so badly she can't stop crying. Please, go see her!" Tristan shoved me aside without hesitation and headed out. Watching his frantic back, my smile turned cold. "Tristan, after tonight, we'll be in different worlds. "For the rest of our lives, we'll never have to see each other again." I went back to my room to make some funeral offerings for my father and brothers. But I'd barely finished when the door was kicked open again. Sabine strode in, haughty, threw the offerings on the floor, and stomped them flat. When she looked at me, she couldn't hide her smugness. "They were cut into a thousand pieces. Why bother pretending with offerings now? "You still don't know how your father and brothers were convicted, do you?" My heart lurched, and I looked up at her without thinking. Sabine smiled even more smugly. "That day you slapped me, Tristan said you were far too arrogant and someone had to find a way to wear down your temper! "Your father and brothers were convicted because a map of the palace defenses was found on an assassin. A map your father drew himself! "If I remember right, there was only one copy, and you handed it to Tristan yourself!" My blood ran cold. She was right. There was only one copy of that map. On my wedding day, I'd given it to Tristan with my own hands. I was the one who'd sent House Harcourt to its doom. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Sabine watched me with open scorn. "You don't really think coughing up a little blood will make Tristan love you, do you? "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I only had to complain about the pain a few times, and he brought in a priest to perform a rite. The priest said your wrongfully dead family was haunting me! "For my sake, Tristan's having your father's and brothers' bones burned and the ashes scattered! "They should be at the paupers' field by now. I doubt your little offerings will do any good!" I was shaking all over. I shoved her aside and ran out the door. My body was covered in wounds, and every step was agony. But I didn't dare waste a moment. By the time I stumbled into the paupers' field, my father's and brothers' remains had already been dug up. When I saw the fire blazing nearby, I nearly lost my mind. "Tristan, please don't!" I tried desperately to rush over, but someone pinned me to the ground. Tristan looked down at me, his eyes like ice. "Elowen, your family's resentment is too strong. If their remains aren't burned completely, they'll harm Sabine's baby!" I lay sprawled on the ground, pressing my forehead to the dirt. "Tristan, I don't want anything anymore. Please, I'm begging you, leave them alone!" My face was covered in blood, but he only gave me a cold look. "Do it!" I watched helplessly as the remains were thrown into the fire, and every last hope died in me. "Tristan, my biggest regret is handing you that defense map just to make you happy! "For the rest of our lives, alive or dead, we'll never meet again!" "Elowen, what are you saying?" Under his stunned gaze, I struggled to my feet and gave him a bleak smile. Then I turned and leaped into the flames without hesitation.