Chapter 3

After breakfast, I excused myself to my room, claiming I felt unwell. Kael expressed his concern with a few caring words before leaving to handle official business, completely oblivious to what I was plotting.

I locked the door and made sure no one was around before slowly walking to the vanity. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto the mirror surface. I stared at my reflection—that pale face was etched with exhaustion, but my eyes burned with cold fury.

"Find out exactly what you did to me..."

My words still echoed in the room as my mind began sorting through all the suspicious details. Eighteen months—a full eighteen months of being unable to conceive. This was no coincidence.

"Why was he so insistent on finding that specific witch?"

Memories flooded back like a tide—the medical examination three months after our wedding. I had been excited to confirm my suspected pregnancy, only to be told my constitution was weak and needed treatment.

"I was perfectly healthy. Why did I suddenly become..." I shot up abruptly, gripping the moon pendant until my knuckles turned white.

That witch! Kael had insisted he was "the most authoritative" and personally escorted me there. Looking back now, that old man's shifty eyes and strange methods seemed so obvious.

"Damn it!" I snarled through gritted teeth, hurling the pendant onto the table.

Footsteps echoed outside. I instantly composed myself and sat back down to brush my hair.

"Darling?" Kael pushed open the door, his face wearing a mask of false concern. "You've been in your room for so long. Are you still bothered by last night's headache?"

I turned with a smile, though my eyes held no warmth whatsoever. "Just reminiscing about old times. By the way, I want to go to the market to buy some spices. I'll cook something special for dinner."

Surprise flickered in Kael's eyes, quickly replaced by delight. "Really? It's been so long since you cooked yourself!"

"After all, you're my beloved husband." My smile was perfectly flawless, yet each word was like an ice blade. "Naturally, I must take good care of you."

Watching his departing figure, I sneered inwardly. Playing games, are we? Let's see who's the better actor.

I changed into a plain cloak and slipped out of the residence during the afternoon.

At the edge of the market, a decrepit wooden hut stood at an angle. I pulled back my hood and stared coldly at the talismans hanging by the entrance.

"Witch Nox, I know you're in there."

The door slowly creaked open, and a white-haired old man poked his head out. His face turned ashen when he saw me. "Luna...? You... how did you..."

"Know about this place?" I pushed past him with a cold laugh. "Perhaps because I remembered that 'examination' from over a year ago?"

The old witch's forehead immediately broke out in a cold sweat. "I... I don't know anything..."

I pulled out a bag of gold coins from my cloak and slammed it onto the broken table. The coins scattered and rolled, creating crisp ringing sounds.

"These are a reward for honest answers." My voice remained calm, but my eyes glinted with dangerous light.

The witch stared greedily at the gold coins but still hesitated. "Luna, I really..."

"Of course," I interrupted, my voice suddenly turning ice-cold, "if you're unwilling to cooperate, I could always let the entire pack know about your black magic business. What do you think would happen when those cursed women find the witch who destroyed their fertility?"

The witch's face turned deathly pale. His hands trembled as he reached for the coins but didn't dare touch them.

"Choose," I looked down at him imperiously. "Gold coins and truth, or being torn apart by an enraged pack."

"I... I'll talk!" The witch finally broke down. "That wasn't an ordinary examination! That Alpha came to me beforehand and made me cast a spell on you during the checkup!"

BOOM—

Like a bolt from the blue! Though I had mentally prepared myself, hearing the direct confession still made my world spin.

"Details! Now!" I grabbed the witch's collar, my eyes filled with murderous intent.

"He... he gave me a lot of gold coins and told me to secretly curse you while examining your body!" The witch completely collapsed. "I pretended to check your physical condition, but I was actually casting a bloodline sealing spell! It would temporarily block fertility without harming the body! I swear, I thought it was just to delay pregnancy. I never meant to hurt you!"

A year and a half of suffering, a year and a half of self-blame—that 'examination' had been nothing but a complete fraud from start to finish!

I felt my blood burning in my veins, but I remained outwardly calm. "Can it be reversed?"

"Yes! Yes, it can!" The witch nodded frantically. "But it takes a month... The antidote is very precious. It requires silver leaves collected on a full moon night and..."

"I don't care about the process." I cut him off coldly, throwing another heavier bag of coins. "Give it to me today."

The witch tremblingly retrieved a small vial from the depths of a cabinet and handed it to me with shaking hands.

On the way back, I clutched the vial in my cloak, my heart like molten lava.

Kael, I truly underestimated your despicable nature.

Pushing open the main door, I saw Sienna pacing in the great hall wearing a silver gown—a color that should only be worn by a Luna. It gleamed blindingly in the sunlight like a provocation.

Several subordinates were organizing documents nearby, all exchanging glances at Sienna's attire.

This bitch doesn't even bother hiding it anymore?

"Luna!" Sienna saw me and approached with feigned delight. "What do you think of this color on me? I heard it's very suitable for... people of importance."

The subordinates whispered among themselves: "Isn't silver only for Lunas to wear?"

"Perhaps some rules need changing?" Sienna lightly caressed her slightly protruding belly, her smile full of provocation. "After all, some people can't even fulfill the most basic female duties."

The air instantly froze.

I felt everyone's eyes focused on me, waiting for my reaction.

The old me might have felt wronged, blamed myself, and silently endured it.

But But now I only wanted to tear apart this presumptuous bitch.

I smiled faintly—elegant and perfect, yet so cold it made people shiver:

"Indeed, some people seem to have forgotten their place."

I slowly walked toward Sienna, each step rhythmic like the tolling of judgment bells. Watching the smugness gradually disappear from her face filled me with savage satisfaction.

"But I'm curious—do those in power really care about complaints from inferiors?"

"What... what are you saying?" Sienna's face turned pale. She clearly hadn't expected the usually gentle me to be so sharp.

"Or perhaps..." I stopped in front of her, my gaze sharp as a blade, "you think wearing silver can actually change your bloodline?"

The subordinates gasped. This was a blatant humiliation of Sienna's Omega status!

"Luna, I was just..." Sienna fumbled for an explanation.

"Just what?" I laughed lightly, my voice like winter itself. "Just thinking you're special?"

I reached out and gently stroked Sienna's silver hem, the motion tender as a caress, but each word pierced like an ice pick:

"Remember your place, Sienna. Some things are not for you to covet."

With that, I left without looking back, leaving behind the ashen-faced Sienna and shocked subordinates.

Back in my room, I locked the door and took out the vial.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice onto the bottle, casting a silver glow.

"Just wait..." I tilted my head back and drained the liquid in one gulp, my eyes burning with the flames of revenge. "Soon, you'll pay the price for today's words."

"When that time comes, who's high and who's low will be crystal clear."