I Was Never Yours

Bomb

"Tell His Royal Highness that I will attend."

I handed the golden invitation back to Cyran. He merely gave a small nod before taking the royal box from my hands.

"I'll be happy to deliver the message, Lady Ashbourne."

"Please tell him something else as well. I'm not used to receiving direct invitations from the royal family. So if this turns out to be nothing more than His Highness amusing himself, I might be disappointed."

The corner of Cyran's mouth twitched slightly. Whether it was a smile or a warning, I couldn't tell.

Before, I trusted Cyran as a friend. But if I were being honest, I trusted him far less as the Crown Prince's right hand. There were simply too many interests and schemes tangled within royal politics.

"I've never known the Crown Prince to do anything simply for his own amusement."

Oh, come on. Don't pretend to misunderstand me on purpose. Of course he wouldn't. That was precisely what made me wary.

After Cyran left, I turned toward Sebastian. Making sure he was still there.

He remained seated with the tablet in his hand. His expression hadn't changed much since reading the latest headlines.

CHURCH COUNCIL CONSIDERS REVIEW OF LADY ASHBOURNE'S CONDUCT FOLLOWING MEMORIAL RECEPTION SCANDAL

SOURCES CLAIM HOUSE ASHBOURNE MAY SEEK FORMAL CHURCH INTERVENTION

I sat down again. "They're moving faster than I expected."

"Because they're panicking."

I raised an eyebrow. Sebastian rarely used emotional words like that.

"Panicking?"

"If they weren't, they wouldn't be bringing the Church into this so quickly, My Lady. Whether the rumors are true or not, it doesn't matters. Once people start talking, it means there's a possibility of movement in that direction. In Valerion, mostly rumors become facts eventually."

That made sense. House Ashbourne had always been careful about maintaining their image. Bringing the Church into the matter meant they wanted to control public opinion before things became impossible to manage.

I picked up my teacup. "What about the assets?"

Sebastian opened another document. "The freeze orders have already been implemented."

"Now that's what I wanted to hear. At least for the moment, I feel like I'm doing something useful."

"The effects are still limited."

"Of course." I had never expected an empire to crumble overnight.

A war required time before the first casualty fell. Even the simple thing like making tea, it required someone to boil water first. Fortunately, patience was one thing I had in abundance.

Sebastian continued. "Vermont Royal Bank has postponed several new credit facilities requested by Ashbourne-affiliated companies."

I nodded. "That quickly?"

As family , I had still worried about internal resistance. My decision would affect far more than just my marriage. It would touch every aspect of our family's business and political standing.

"Vermont Maritime Group has also suspended approval for several shipping contracts."

"And?" I wanted the rest of the report.

"Royal Valerion Steel has begun reviewing several distribution agreements."

A small smile appeared on my lips. Still reviewing. Not canceling yet. But that was enough for now. At least they would understand that I was serious.

"How long before they start feeling the damage?"

Sebastian paused briefly, processing figures and probabilities at a speed most people couldn't comprehend. "Three days."

"Only three?"

"Five if they move quickly."

I let out a quiet laugh. Not bad. All I had to do now was wait for the bomb to go off.

***

I was nearly finished with breakfast when the chair across from me was pulled back. I didn't need to look up to know who it was.

There was only one person in this house who had the right to sit across from me without an invitation; Vaeldric. He sat down as though nothing had changed.

He poured himself coffee the same way he always had. The same way he used to on mornings when we were still happy.

As though I had never caught him with another woman, or uncovered evidence of his affair. Like we hadn't lost the child we'd waited years for.

From the outside, we probably still looked like the perfect couple Valerion once admired.

"What are you doing?"

I glanced at him before taking another sip of tea. "What does it look like?"

"Don't play games with me, Seraphina."

"I'm having breakfast.

His jaw tightened. Definitely not the answer he wanted.

"You know what I mean." His voice carried a warning.

"Of course I do." I returned to cutting my bread.

"Then why ask?"

Several servants immediately lowered their heads. One by one, they quietly excused themselves from the room. They probably wished the floor would swallow them whole.

"I just received a report from headquarters."

"Wow. Congratulations."

"Lift the freeze." This time he didn't threaten me. He spoke calmly.

I almost laughed. No good morning. No questions about how I was doing. Not a single word about our child. Straight to business.

That was Vaeldric. Always focused on whatever he considered most important. Apparently, neither I nor the baby we'd lost qualified. And unfortunately, I had spent years allowing that.

"No." My answer was short. Final.

"You're attacking my family."

I leaned back in my chair. "And you slept with another woman."

His expression hardened. I continued before he could respond.

"See? We can both state unpleasant facts. Or did you think only a decorated general had the right to launch attacks?"

"This doesn't only affect me."

"Yes."

"Thousands of people work for those companies."

"I know."

"You're threatening economic stability."

"I've already considered that."

For the first time, genuine emotion slipped through. "Then why?"

A faint smile appeared on my lips. Finally, he asked the right question.

"Because I can."

Something shifted in his eyes. Perhaps for the first time since our marriage, Vaeldric realized I wasn't acting out of anger.

This wasn't a tantrum. It was a decision. And he knew a calculated decision was far more dangerous than rage.

"You're not like this."

"Really?"

"No."

I nodded slowly. "You're right."

I wasn't like this before. Before, I still loved you.

***

By afternoon, new headlines had begun circulating. Brita stormed into the room carrying several newspapers. She looked furious.

"Doesn't the Church have anything better to do?"

I took one of the papers from her hands. She nearly jumped. Apparently, she'd been too busy muttering to herself to notice me.

"I think they are doing their job."

"By attacking you, Lady?"

"That is a job too."

Brita snorted. Honestly, I should have been the angry one. But seeing her more upset than I was, somehow it made me feel better. She had been worrying about me all along.

I skimmed through the articles. Some criticized me. Some defended me. Most were simply chasing attention. Nothing unusual.

Yet one thing caught my attention. The harder the Church attacked me, the more public support I gained.

Sebastian was right. People no longer saw me as a wife rebelling against her husband. They saw a grieving mother. And public sympathy was a currency far more valuable than money.

"My Lady." Abella's voice drew my attention.

"A letter has arrived for you."

"From?"

"House Vermont."

I paused. Father rarely sent letters. Especially when we lived in the same city. Mostly, Father would simply contact me by calling or texting.

Curious, I opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper. One sentence. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I read it twice. Then once more to be certain. Before finally smiling.

"My Lady?"

Brita looked curious. I handed her the letter. Her eyes widened immediately.

"Does this mean Lord Lucien is coming back?"

"It seems so."

Brita looked far more excited than she should have.

"Wow."

I almost laughed. Yes. Lucien Vermont was finally coming home.

And if my brother was willing to abandon his hunting trips, his travels, and every hobby he cherished just to return to the capital... Then someone was in very serious trouble.

I folded the letter and looked out the window. The skies above Valerion were bright, peaceful, and calm.

Exactly the way they always looked before a storm. And I knew one thing for certain.

House Ashbourne might believe they had won a small battle by involving the Church. But the real war...

Would begin tomorrow.