Chapter 14: Aubrey’s Performance

Aubrey, surrounded by attendants, walked in.

Because she wasn't born beautiful, she curated a contrast—surrounding herself with people who wouldn’t outshine her, shaping the picture to soften judgment.

Thus the maids she found to serve her were plain and unassuming; a few were older women moving slow and steady, faces mapped with time.

Caleb, unprepared, came face to face with such a procession and was so dazzled he could hardly keep his eyes open.

The sight was something straight out of a twisted family comedy—Caleb blinking hard, trying to maintain his dignity while the parade shuffled past, each one a reminder that beauty is a lottery, not a birthright.

Aubrey too, as I did, wore a veiled hat; only a graceful profile under the light gauze could be indistinctly discerned.

As soon as she entered the hall she broke into sobs: "I heard Archmage Mercer wants to withdraw Elder Sister's marriage. That damned man—after Elder Sister has had deep-rooted feelings for him for so many years—how dare he betray Elder Sister's affection like this!" Her eyes flicked, checking his reaction between tears.

Her chest heaved violently as she still voiced injustice on my behalf.

She proceeded to enumerate my girlish affections one by one.

In the last life, Aubrey and I were especially close; she was also the only one who knew of my feelings toward Caleb.

Her saying it now was only to humiliate me further.

Caleb's deep eyes turned toward me, with a look that said, "So it really is like this."

"Don't know who Archmage Mercer has got on the side—this marriage, not withdrawn early, not withdrawn late..."

Caleb's face went green beneath the pallor.

My mother, the Matriarch, was astonished: "But he said the one his heart delights in is you, Aubrey."

Then she demanded accountability: "Just how did the phoenix courier who went to fetch you pass on the message!"

I nearly laughed out loud.

This Aubrey, only hearing half a message, hurried over to watch me make a fool of myself.

I saw the smirk behind her tears, the way her shoulders relaxed just a little. She thrived on the confusion, always ready to play innocent when the spotlight hit her. At the edge of her veil, a lace edge lifted a fraction, then fell.