Chapter 1
Cecilia's POV
I gave Arthur a thousand years. A thousand years to secure his throne as God-King.
And on the day of our engagement ceremony, he announced he was marrying someone else.
In my past life, I bled myself dry for him.
He told me Lilith needed Seraphim blood to live. I believed him. He bound me to the Divine Punishment Pillar and carved open my chest, one cut at a time.
He massacred my entire clan, calling it "treason."
I only learned the truth as I was dying. That pitiful "saint" was a demon from the Abyss all along.
Now that I'm reborn, watching him sit on that throne makes my skin crawl.
I destroy our engagement in front of everyone and take the entire Seraphim clan with me.
This time, I'm only here to watch him destroy himself.
I stand in the center of the cathedral, my stare cold as I watch Arthur on his throne.
He's holding hands with some delicate little thing.
That's Lilith, the realm's latest healing saint.
"Cecilia, Lilith saved my life and hurt her soul in the process."
Arthur's voice carries that commanding tone he loves, echoing through the hall.
"She's a hero to this realm. So today's ceremony isn't just about honoring her. Today, I'm making Lilith my Queen."
The room explodes.
The Dominions and Virtues around us start whispering to each other, every eye turning to me.
Everyone knows who I am. Cecilia, leader of the Seraphim clan, Supreme Commander of the Sacred Legion, Arthur's fiancée for the past thousand years.
I led my people through three centuries of war against the Abyss so he could keep that throne.
And now he's ditching me at our own engagement ceremony?
Lilith nestles against Arthur, giving me this timid little look.
"Please don't be angry with His Majesty, Sister Cecilia. It's my fault. I shouldn't have taken that hit for him."
"I don't need a title. As long as I can stay by his side, I'd be happy just being a servant."
Her eyes start getting red as she talks, tears threatening to fall.
Arthur pulls her closer and glares at me.
"Look how gracious Lilith is, Cecilia!"
"You're the Commander of the Sacred Legion. Show some grace and accept this. You'll agree to this today, like it or not."
Looking at his self-righteous face makes my stomach turn.
Memories from my past life flood back.
This exact day, I stood in this exact spot.
When I heard the news then, I lost it. Questioned him like a madwoman, even tried to attack Lilith.
What happened?
Arthur ran his sword straight through my six wings to protect that two-faced bitch.
Right here, in front of the entire realm, he stripped me of my command.
Later, Lilith faked an illness. She said only Seraphim blood could heal her damaged soul.
Arthur didn't hesitate. He chained me to the Divine Punishment Pillar.
Cut me open himself, one slice at a time, and drained every drop of divine blood from my body.
I remember it so clearly. Lilith was hiding behind Arthur, that vicious smirk on her face.
They tore me apart, and then Arthur butchered my entire clan on charges of "treason."
That soul-crushing despair is something I never want to feel again.
Now that I'm reborn, he's still the same selfish, fake piece of shit.
When I don't respond, the gods around us start murmuring.
"Why isn't Commander Cecilia saying anything? Is she in shock?"
"Poor thing. She gave him everything, and he just throws her away for someone else."
"Shh, keep it down. The God-King is just repaying a debt."
Arthur sees my silence and assumes I'm caving like I always did.
He looks down at me with that patronizing tone.
"As long as you accept Lilith today, Cecilia, you'll still have a place in my heart."
"My feelings for you won't change."
I laugh. Actually laugh out loud.
Arthur frowns. "What's so funny?"
I raise my head and meet his eyes with ice.
"I'm laughing because you're not just blind, you're delusional."
"You think I want your heart?"
I lift my right hand. A crystal forms in my palm, glowing with golden light.
The marriage bond crystal that the former God-King left behind. The one that sealed our engagement.
Arthur's face changes. "Cecilia, what are you doing?!"
I close my fist. The supposedly indestructible crystal crumbles to dust in my hand, golden powder scattering in the air.
Dead silence.
Everyone's eyes go wide, staring at me in disbelief.
Even Lilith freezes, forgetting to keep up her crying act.
My voice comes out cold and final. "As of today, our engagement is over."
Arthur shoots to his feet, face going red. "Cecilia! Do you have any idea what you just did? You're breaking off our engagement in front of everyone?!"
"You revolted me first. What, I'm not allowed to feel the same?" I stare him down. "Arthur, for a thousand years, my clan has been fighting and dying for you."
"If you think this crying waste of space is more important than that, then you two deserve each other."
"I'm done."
