This life, I intended to live differently.
I walked faster.
Gemma rose on her toes and hurried to keep up.
Behind us, the crowd erupted.
Hoofbeats hammered closer, louder, shaking the ground beneath my feet.
"Norma!"
A man's voice split the air beside my ear.
My feet stopped. My body turned, stiff as a board.
Lester Vance sat tall on his warhorse, silver armor gleaming, a black-gold crown framing sharp brows and striking eyes. He was so handsome it almost hurt to look at him.
"Not going to congratulate me on my victory?"
He watched me, expectation written across his face.
Every girl in the crowd turned to stare at me, green with envy.
Once, I would have basked in those looks.
Savored the certainty that I was the only one in Lester Vance's heart.
Until I saw with my own eyes what he did for Scarlett Vance.
Then I understood. All that devotion he'd shown me was nothing but a screen to hide the feelings he could never let the world see.
My voice came out flat. "The line of people waiting to congratulate you stretches from one end of this city to the other, General. You won't miss me."
His brow furrowed. "Three years apart, Norma, and this is what you have to say to me?"
I let my gaze drift across his face, calm as still water. "Oh, one more thing. When you find the time, send our betrothal contract back to the Black family."
Lester froze.
He swung off his horse and nearly stumbled on the landing.
"What is that supposed to mean? Explain yourself."
I had no interest in explaining anything to him.
The only thought in my head was to get as far from here as possible.
Girls swarmed around Lester, closing in like a tide.
I seized the chance and slipped away with Gemma.
She squeezed my palm. "You don't want him anymore, Norma?"
"Everyone says he's a great hero who won the war. They're all fighting over him!"
"Why doesn't my sister want the great hero?"
I didn't know how to explain it to her.
Probably because when a great hero decides to betray you, he does it more ruthlessly than anyone else.
He doesn't just crush your heart.
And it would cost my entire family their lives.
A marriage that ended in execution and ruin was one I could not afford.
And no longer wanted.
I hadn't even made it back to the residence yet.
The news of my broken engagement with Lester Vance had already swept through Aurelia.