Three Years of Devotion, All for His Lie

Chapter 3

Dorian did not notice Aurora standing with her back to him. His eyes immediately fell on Isabella, whose usually cold and self-restrained face now showed a rare trace of anger.

He had just changed out of his priest's robes. The bamboo-green brocade robe on his body made his tall and handsome figure appear even more elegant. His smooth shaved head, though round and well-shaped, still looked somewhat out of place.

Aurora immediately seemed to find someone to rely on. She threw the handkerchief in her hand onto the ground and dropped to her knees, her eyes filling with tears. "Young Master, Isabella said I took her handkerchief. She even hit me and ordered me to kneel here until tomorrow."

Only then did Isabella see clearly that the handkerchief in Aurora's hand was the one she had stayed up several nights embroidering for Dorian a few days ago.

The anger on her face faded. Of course. Without his silent approval and indulgence, how could a mere bed-serving maid dare to act so arrogantly in front of her, the heir's wife.

It was simply because she was favored that she dared to be so unrestrained.

Dorian walked over quickly. When he saw that the woman with her back to him was Aurora, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.

"Isabella, why make things difficult for a maid. I gave that handkerchief to her. She is my person after all. You should not be so petty."

A layer of frost covered Isabella's brows and eyes.

"Dorian, you once saved my life. I have been married to you for three years and lived like a widow for three years. I have also knelt in prayer and copied scriptures for you for three years. Our debts are already settled. Today, in what capacity are you accusing me of being petty."

Dorian was full of confusion. Just yesterday she had been calling him husband again and again. Why was she calling him by his name today.

"I am your husband. What do you mean in what capacity. That life-saving favor has long passed. There is no need to mention it again in the future. The calamity in my fate has already been resolved, and I already know your true feelings for me. Tomorrow I will return to the residence and consummate our marriage. Do not throw a childish temper at a time like this."

Isabella shook her head. She looked at the handkerchief on the ground, already soaked and darkened with moisture, and suddenly felt an intense sense of boredom.

She stepped on it and said with a bitter smile, "Consummate the marriage. If I truly cared about such a thing, you would not have lived so freely these past three years."

After saying that, she turned to leave.

"Tomorrow, I will wait for you in the study."

Aurora quickly grabbed the hem of Isabella's skirt and crawled forward on her knees, knocking her head heavily against the ground.

"Isabella, the Young Master and you are in love with each other. This servant has seen it with her own eyes these past three years."

Isabella stared at Dorian's increasingly cold expression and slowly closed her eyes.

"That is enough. This joke should end here. Dorian, if you want to raise someone to the position of secondary wife, that is your freedom. But I will say the same thing again. My husband can only have me."

"And also," she looked at the tearful Aurora, "you spoke to me arrogantly just now, yet now you are pretending to be pitiful. You have mastered the tricks of the inner courtyard quite well for a lowly bed-serving maid."

Isabella spoke bluntly. Aurora's face instantly turned pale. She looked at Dorian for help.

"Young Master, I did not."

Dorian pulled Aurora up with concern. Aurora suddenly closed her eyes tightly, and then her foot slipped as if by accident. She looked as if she were about to fall down the steps.

Her hands flailed wildly. In the chaos she grabbed Isabella's arm, and the two of them fell together.

Behind them were steps that seemed endless. Aurora cried out in fear.

"Young Master, save me."

Isabella was dragged by her. The frozen ground was already slippery, and now her body could not stop falling backward.

Instinctively she reached out and cried for help.

"Husband."

Only a brief struggle flashed through Dorian's eyes before he quickly reached out and grabbed Aurora.

Before Aurora was pulled up, her weak but clear voice reached Isabella's ears.

"Isabella is still a virgin. You must be very desperate. Aurora will give you a little sweetness."

As she spoke, hidden by her robes, she quickly kicked Isabella in the chest and used the force to fall into Dorian's arms.

Isabella had no time to think about the meaning of those words before the cold, hard steps slammed into her back, chest, and forehead.

She could not stop herself from rolling down the steps. The pilgrims along the way did not dare to step forward.

On such a snowy day, with the steps covered in ice, people had to walk carefully even on their own. How could they stop the force of a living person tumbling down.

Isabella struggled desperately to grab any branches or protruding stones around her to slow her fall.

But her nails split and her fingertips were torn open. Blood marked the steps behind her, yet she could not grab anything that could save her.

"Dorian. Save me."

She shouted with all her strength, but Dorian seemed not to hear her. He only cared about comforting the frightened Aurora, holding her as he turned and walked toward the meditation rooms.