Winter was loosening its pale, brittle grip upon the land, and with it the long, merciless battle at the eastern border was drawing toward its weary end.
Within the quiet halls of Marquess Calvane's mansion, Lady Laine stood by the tall window for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. Outside, the world was washed in silver frost and fading snow, yet her cheeks were flushed with restless warmth, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Seven months. Seven endless months since Kaelric had left for the frontier, where for eight months unrest had gnawed at the eastern-north border, and for seven of those he had borne its burden alone.
Her hand drifted to her swollen belly, heavy with the nearing promise of life. Nine months almost time. She smiled faintly, whispering in tender affection,
"Your father will be here soon… before you step into this world, he will be here."
As if summoned by her hope, a carriage appeared at the distant gates, its wheels crunching softly upon the frost-bitten path.
Joy burst through her like sunlight after storm. She turned swiftly to the mirror, smoothing her hair, studying her pale face, her rounded form. Did she look too tired? Too changed? Too… heavy? A soft, nervous laugh escaped her as she wrapped her warm cloak around herself.
Then, suddenly, a thought pierced her happiness.
A carriage?
Kaelric preferred horses. Always horses.
Her breath faltered.
Is he hurt? …Is he wounded?
Fear surged like icy water through her veins. Without another thought she hurried from her chamber, one hand supporting her heavy belly, the other clutching her cloak. Her steps echoed hurriedly down the marble corridor.
Halfway down the stairs her maid appeared, pale and trembling, eyes already brimming with tears.
"My Lady please do not go. Stay here… please."
But Laine no longer heard her. A chill crawled across her skin; her heart sank with a dread she could not name. Gathering what strength she could, she moved faster, breath uneven, body shaking.
At last, she reached the gate.
There beside the carriage door stood Kaelric.
Unharmed.
Alive.
The sight struck her like dawn after endless night. Relief flooded her trembling body, and though tears already clung to her lashes, a fragile smile bloomed upon her lips. She stepped forward, longing to fall into his arms, to quiet the storm within her chest.
Then
A hand emerged from the carriage.
A woman's hand.
Kaelric reached out and gently helped her descend.
Nothing unusual nothing, perhaps, at first glance.
Yet the woman smiled too warmly, her fingers lingering in his grasp, the other resting lightly upon his chest as she gazed at him with a shy blush.
But it was not her smile that froze Laine's breath.
It was her belly.
Round. Swollen.
Five months, at least.
And in that instant, everything became clear.
Why her maid had tried to stop her.
Why a carriage had come instead of a horse.
Why!!!
Why...
Just… why Kaelric.
Laine stared at the woman's swelling form, tears slipping soundlessly down her cheeks. The world tilted; her knees weakened, and she would have fallen had her maid not caught her from behind.
Across the cold courtyard, a pair of grey-silver eyes met hers.
Kaelric's eyes.
They pleaded wordless, shattered, drowning in guilt. Pain filled them, raw and helpless, as though he wished to bear her suffering in her stead. It had been a mistake,a drunken, senseless mistake but excuses crumbled like dust before the wound he had carved into her heart. He longed to run to her, to fall at her feet, to beg but he knew he had forfeited the right to her forgiveness.
Laine's lips trembled, pale and cold.
"At least… you are not dead."
Nothing more.
With what remained of her dignity, she turned away, leaving them behind, and walked back toward the silent mansion. Her tears did not stop. Behind her, her maid wept openly, clutching her arm thinking how could such love shatter? They had been the most envied couple in the duchy. And now, it lay in ruins like a fallen dream.
Laine loved Kaelric deeply but she was a woman of unyielding pride and quiet strength.
That very day, without a word to him, she left.
With her little daughter Lethia only two years old...she returned to her father's estate, carrying her broken heart and unborn child with her.
When Kaelric learned of her departure, he rode after her without rest.
But he was too late.