Chapter 3

There was the smell of oud in the room. It used to be my favorite fragrance.

When Hayes ordered me to be locked up, he also instructed the housekeeper to make the room warmer. "She gets cold at night."

The housekeeper replied in acknowledgment.

I leaned against the bed and suddenly smiled when I heard his instruction.

He still remembered that I was sensitive to the cold and that I loved the smell of oud, but he forgot that I lost a portion of my mystical talent and could not withstand the wind on Repentance Cliff. Nor did he remember that my Soulsword was broken and that my Immortal Soul felt like being pricked by fine needles at every moment.

The system's voice would ring out once in a while. "The stability of the Host's Immortal Soul has decreased. Preparation to exit is underway."

After hearing this, Hayes at the door froze for a moment.

I looked up at him. "You heard it?"

He did not deny it. Instead, he walked up to me and looked at me condescendingly. "Luna, how many more things are you hiding from me?"

I was taken aback. Even now, this was still the first question he asked.

I whispered, "What have I hidden from you?"

He looked at me, an indifference deep in his eyes. "You're not from here."

My heart sank.

Hayes smiled. The smile was faint yet chilling. "So what was your mission in approaching me, marrying me, and staying in the Unfettered Sect from the very beginning?"

I looked at him, finally understanding after a long while.

He heard the system, but only heard the half he feared most. He thought my love was a mission, that I could leave at any moment, and that I had never stayed because I wanted to.

It felt as if a lump of cold snow lodged in my throat, impossible to swallow or spit out. "Hayes, would you believe me if I said it's not true?"

He did not answer, but his silence was more hurtful than disbelief.

Suddenly, light footsteps rang outside the door. Tessa pushed open the door and entered while carrying medicine. She had changed out of her wedding dress, wearing only plain white. Her eyes were red, looking extremely fragile. "Hayes, I've come to deliver Luna's medicine."

Hayes did not stop her.

Tessa walked up to me and handed me the bowl of medicine. "Luna, drink this. You're so badly injured. Hayes must be heartbroken."

I looked at the bowl of medicine. "Heartbroken?"

Tessa lowered her voice, so only I could hear her. "Luna, Hayes stayed by my bedside last night and didn't sleep a wink."

She chuckled. "He said you're stubborn, and that you'll relent after some suffering. After the ceremony, he'll sort you out."

'Sort me out?' I wondered, almost laughing out loud.

I had been his wife for 300 years, and all I got in the end was to be 'sorted out'.

Tessa suddenly twisted her wrist. The bowl of medicine fell to the ground, the shards of porcelain cutting the back of her hand. A tiny bead of blood oozed out.

Hayes immediately grabbed her hand. "Why were you so careless?"

Tessa shook her head, crying. "It's not Luna's fault. I didn't hold it properly."

Hayes looked at me. His gaze contained reproach, weariness, and the kind of disappointment I used to fear most. "Luna."

I interrupted him, "I didn't touch her."

He said, "I know."

I froze. He knew, yet he still sided with Tessa.

Hayes looked down at me, his tone flat. "But the ceremony is imminent. I can't let Tessa be frightened again."

I looked at him and suddenly understood everything. He was not being deceived; he simply chose not to pursue the matter each time—all because I was the one who was wronged and I always forgave him in the past.

The system rang. "Current affection points: 3."

Hayes paled slightly.

I stood up, gripping the edge of the bed. "Hayes."

He frowned. "What are you going to say now?"

I looked at him and slowly added, "I don't want the northern snow anymore."

His eyes froze. It was a promise he had made to me. "I don't want the ceremonial wine anymore, nor the Everlasting Lamp."

I raised my hand, touching my empty waist. "I don't want the name you engraved on my sword hilt either."

Hayes' expression finally changed. "Luna, don't say that just because you're upset."

I shook my head. "I'm not."

I looked at him. "You said you'd never betray me. I'm taking your words back for you."

His grip was incredibly strong, but his eyes were chillingly cold. "Who gave you permission to take it back?"

My shoulder ached from his grip, but I still looked at him and smiled faintly. "Hayes, you've already betrayed me long ago."

His eyes darkened.

Tessa sobbed softly at the side. "Hayes, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, Luna wouldn't hate you like this. She's injured; understandably, she harbors resentment. Don't hold it against her anymore."

The more she pleaded, the colder Hayes's expression became. He stared at me, as if finally fed up with my demeanor. "Luna, I've spoiled you for too long, haven't I?"

I stayed silent.

The system rang out. "Current affection points: 1."

A moment of silence fell over the hall.

Hayes had obviously heard it too. Instead, he let out a low scoff. "You're using the same old tricks again."

He released his grip. "When you used force to coerce me in the past, I was still willing to appease you once. Even now, you still insist on using this ridiculous trick over and over again?"

I stared at him blankly. Even now, he still thought I was faking it.

Hayes looked down at me, his tone tinged with a cold disappointment. "Luna, if you were truly capable of leaving, you wouldn't have to make me hear this every time. All you've done is try to force me to give in during the ceremony and make me abandon Tessa in front of everyone to coax you. Aren't you overestimating yourself?"

Every word felt like a dull blade slowly cutting into my heart.

I looked at him, suddenly losing even the will to argue.

Yes, I had told him the truth countless times. He had never believed me once.

With reddened eyes, Tessa tugged at his sleeve. "Hayes, don't chide Luna like that. She won't be able to take it..."

Hayes closed his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, his expression was as cold and hard as ice. "Send her to Repentance Cliff."

He did not look at me again, only saying flatly, "She's not allowed to come out before the ceremony."

A guard came in and dragged me away.

As we reached the door, I heard Hayes whisper, "Remember to bring your cloak."

I suddenly laughed. The laughter was not loud, but it silenced the hall.

Hayes looked up at me, displeasure already evident in his eyes.

I looked at him too. "Hayes. If you were really worried I'd be cold, you shouldn't have left me alone in the snow in the first place."

His expression darkened. "Luna, how long are you going to keep this up?"

I did not answer and only stared at him silently. In that instant, it felt like something in my heart finally broke for good. It turned out the person I desperately tried to keep by my side found my last bit of truth too noisy in the end.