His Dark Moon, Her Sacrifice

Chapter 2

Ismerie froze where she stood, her mind going completely blank. She was utterly stunned.

They had been married for five years, deeply in love every step of the way. No matter what, she could not bring herself to believe Leontis would ever betray her.

But Leontis fell silent for only the briefest moment before turning to his aide.

"Send for the base medical staff at once."

Seeing how swiftly he acted without hesitation, Ismerie's heart felt as though it had been struck by a sledgehammer. She swayed on her feet, nearly losing her balance.

Her voice trembled uncontrollably. "Leontis... you just told me she was the widow of one of your fallen men."

Leontis finally looked at her. After several long seconds, he lowered his gaze and tried to explain.

"Her older brother died on the front lines. With his last breath, he asked me to look after her..."

His voice grew quieter with every word, while Ismerie's heart sank deeper into an icy abyss until she could barely breathe.

From the very beginning, he had been lying to her.

During the six months he had been away, she had lived in constant fear.

She had eaten simple meals, kept her heart at peace, visited the cathedral on the outskirts whenever she could, and knelt in prayer morning and night, asking for only one thing, that he would return home safely.

Never once had she imagined that while he was so far away, he had been hiding another woman from her all along.

At that moment, Ismerie felt nothing but misery and humiliation. She bit down hard on her lip to keep the tears from spilling over and turned to leave.

Before she could take another step, Leontis caught her wrist.

"Ismerie, listen to me. We were celebrating after a mission. I drank too much... I wasn't thinking clearly. I mistook her for you."

The excuse was so hollow and convenient that it wrapped around her throat like a noose, leaving only bitterness behind.

Just then, the aide returned with the base medics.

After a brief examination, the senior medic bowed respectfully. "This lady is confirmed to be pregnant, approximately eight weeks along."

Those words erased every last trace of doubt. Leontis had betrayed her.

A sharp, searing pain ripped through Ismerie's chest, and she staggered backward.

Before she could steady herself, Aveline hurried toward her and dropped heavily to her knees on the cold stone floor. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she repeatedly lowered her head.

"My lady, all the blame is mine... I don't ask for your forgiveness... but the child is innocent. I can't bear for him to grow up without his father... I ask for nothing more than to remain by the Colonel's side. I'll gladly serve as his assistant... or serve you both in any way I can."

Leontis frowned deeply and quickly helped her to her feet. His words sounded like a reprimand.

Yet the hand that gently brushed away her tears was tender enough to shatter Ismerie's heart. Watching them together felt like being pierced by a thousand tiny needles.

Outside, spring flowers bloomed beneath a warm sun. Yet Ismerie felt as though she had fallen into an endless frozen abyss, her blood slowly turning to ice.

Perhaps noticing how deathly pale she had become, Leontis instructed his men to escort Aveline to a nearby private waiting room.

Soon, only the two of them remained in the great hall.

Leontis turned toward her, his voice heavy with helplessness. "Ismerie... don't be too hard on her. Once the child is born, we'll register him as our son. Everything between us will stay exactly as it has always been."

Exactly as it had always been? Could anything between them ever truly be the same again?

Ismerie's mind replayed the image of Leontis reaching for Aveline with such instinctive care.

If he could show that much tenderness while she stood right there, how much more intimate had they been while he was away?

When Ismerie remained silent, Leontis reached for her hand.

"Once the baby is born, I'll arrange for Aveline to settle overseas permanently. She'll never come back. The child will be no different from one born to us."

"You know as well as I do," Ismerie replied, every word scraping against her throat like broken glass. "My destiny chart bears an empty House of Heirs. I was never meant to bear or raise a child. Even if you register this child under my name... he won't survive."

Leontis went completely still. His throat tightened, but no words came.

Slowly, Ismerie slipped her hand from his grasp and walked out of the military base.

He didn't follow her.

She had nowhere to go.

She couldn't bring herself to return to the hilltop estate filled with memories of the life they had shared, so she wandered aimlessly through the city streets.

As she passed the little café she had once loved, the owner smiled warmly.

"It's been so long since you've visited! Isn't the Colonel with you today?"

She remembered how she used to sit there eating sweet pastries while listening to the musicians play. Whenever he wasn't busy, Leontis was always by her side.

He had once told her with a smile, "As long as I'm with you, I'll be happy anywhere."

She stood silently at the entrance, lost in memories.

Just then, a street vendor pushing a cart of handmade confections called out cheerfully, "Miss, would you like a sugar figure?"

Another sharp ache pierced her heart.

She had once casually mentioned how beautiful they looked.

The heir to the Thornecroft family had secretly sought out an elderly confectioner, learned the craft himself, and painstakingly made her a crooked, clumsy little sugar figure.

It had been the ugliest thing she had ever seen, and the sweetest thing she had ever tasted.

Every corner of the city held memories of them. There was nowhere left for her to escape.

The thought of losing him forever made it feel as though someone had torn her heart from her chest.

As evening settled over the city, Ismerie lowered her eyes and finally returned to the estate.

The moment she stepped through the front doors, her heart sank.

Bright red ribbons and festive decorations covered the entire house.

Lady Thornecroft, who was usually stern and commanding, was smiling as she directed the servants.

"Bring out the gilded screen carved with vines and fruit from my chambers. Be careful not to scratch it! The Thornecroft family finally has something worth celebrating."

Leontis stood beside her. Even his usually cold, stern features were softened by a faint smile.

A wave of dread washed over Ismerie.

She hurried forward. "What is all this for?"

Leontis pressed his lips together before answering quietly, "Ismerie... I intend to bring Aveline here to live with us."