Chapter 2
Cecilia's POV
"You never wanted to marry me anyway. Did you?"
Dead silence.
Marcus froze. Stared at me like he'd never seen me before.
I knew why he looked shocked. When he'd wanted to strip my title for Lycia's sake, he'd offered me a fortune—territories spanning three cities, a mountain of gold, even a noble title of my own.
I'd refused it all.
Later, when he ignored me completely, humiliated me in front of the entire clan, called me "that scheming bitch who trapped me with a pregnancy"—I never once said I'd leave.
Because back then, he was my last shot. Morag said I just needed one—one person out of three to truly love me. That's all. My parents hated me. Cedric despised me. That left Marcus.
And I loved him. I thought if I tried hard enough, he'd love me back one day.
Turns out I was an idiot.
"What's this supposed to be?" Marcus's eyes narrowed. "You threatening me?"
"It's not a threat." I closed my eyes. "Just... don't make him die by your hand."
Marcus scoffed. "You're really trying to guilt-trip me? Cecilia, I hired the kingdom's best healer. Nothing's going to happen to the kid. You think everyone's as twisted as you, using children as tools?"
The skull mark stabbed again. Pain spreading like cracks in ice.
But I was done arguing. Nothing I said would make him believe me anyway.
"Marcus." I looked at him, voice quiet. "I don't want my child to have a father like you. That's all."
Marcus stared hard, his face shifting.
Cedric cut in coldly. "How much longer are you going to make Lycia wait? She's running out of time."
Marcus finally turned to the guards outside. "Announce it kingdom-wide. Strip Cecilia Darkmoon of her title as Queen. Effective immediately."
Then he left. Didn't look back.
I touched my belly one last time, gentle. I'm sorry, baby. I couldn't give you a whole family.
Movement inside. Like the baby was answering.
I was crying.
"Cut the act." Cedric's voice was ice. "Someone like you? You don't give a damn if your own kid lives or dies."
I looked up at the contempt in his eyes.
"Cedric." My voice cracked. "You said you'd protect me forever."
Cedric froze.
Yeah. He had said that once. When did everything change?
My parents found him half-dead—a feral orphan covered in wounds. I fed him every day, taught him to talk, kept him company.
Later my parents adopted him, but they were still harsh. Every time Father beat him, I'd sneak him medicine, tell him not to be afraid.
When I was six, my parents locked me in the dungeon for three days without food after Lycia "disappeared." Cedric risked a beating to bring me scraps. He held my hand and said, "When I grow up, I'll protect you forever."
I believed him.
But after Lycia came back, he broke that promise.
She made him fall for her. Told him I'd deliberately hurt her, trying to steal our parents' love.
After that, Cedric shut me out completely.
At sixteen, at the Blood Academy's dance, Lycia framed me—claimed I'd drugged her drink. Cedric kicked me down.
"Cecilia, how can you BE this vicious? Lycia was RIGHT—you're just JEALOUS!"
His eyes burned with rage, like he was looking at a monster.
I covered my face, tried to explain. He wouldn't listen.
Lycia's followers cornered me. Ripped my dress, poured blood-wine all over me, even took photos of me half-naked.
Cedric just stood there watching. Then he carried "weak" Lycia out and left.
After that, the whole academy called me a slut. Said I liked seducing men.
By year's end, I'd finally earned admission to the Royal Academy. Cedric showed up with a memory crystal—footage of me being humiliated.
He said, "Give your spot to Lycia. Or this goes public across the entire vampire nation."
My one hope, crushed. But Lycia stole the crystal anyway and spread it through every noble house.
After that, Cedric never protected me again. Anytime I had even a sliver of success, he'd destroy it.
Until I met Marcus. Only then did he back off—because Lycia wanted to use me to get close to Marcus.
And now, to save Lycia, he was going to cut me open himself.
"Someone like YOU?" Cedric sneered. "You think you get to bring up that promise?"
He pulled on gloves and pressed down hard on my stomach. "Though I'll admit, the baby's healthy. If he saves Lycia, I might consider destroying those memory crystals."
"Don't bother." My voice came out flat.
Lycia had already spread them everywhere anyway.
I lifted my chained wrist. A silver pendant hung there—crudely carved with childish patterns. Cedric had made it for me when he was ten.
All these years, through everything he did to me, I kept it. But now...
"Here. Take it back."
Cedric looked at the pendant and frowned. "What's this supposed to mean?"
"You said this pendant was a promise." I met his eyes. "I'm using it now. To make you agree to one thing."
Cedric stared at it for a moment, then reached over and yanked it off my wrist. Shoved it in his pocket.
"Anything except letting you go." His tone softened slightly.
I looked down. "Cedric, after I die... bury me under that big tree by Starlake."
Our childhood hideout. The only good memory I had left.
"What are you trying to pull?" Cedric laughed coldly. "It's just a C-section. Stop playing the victim."
"I trust your skills." My voice was barely a whisper. "But every surgery has risks. This is my last request."
Cedric went quiet for a beat. "Fine. Since you're using that promise for this, don't regret it." He paused. "As long as you stop causing trouble for Lycia, I'll make sure you and the child survive. This is the LAST time."
The blade came down.
Just then—
The door SLAMMED open.
Albert and Elena—my parents—burst in.
