Chapter 15: Terms of Surrender

Aubrey was stunned; after reacting, she bowed gracefully, tears about to fall, and said, "Uncle and Aunt, please be clear. Aubrey has always kept to her bounds and has absolutely never privately exchanged with the Archmage. The Archmage's withdrawing the marriage this time..."

She pushed away the arm Caleb extended to support her; her slender figure trembled lightly, lace scraping against his cuff: "This truly makes me look bad."

I said softly, "Cousin, he's withdrawing my marriage and naming you to take as wife; for no reason at all—if you say you don't have a bit of private affection, I don't believe it."

"Aubrey is wronged! What Elder Sister likes—how would I dare lay a finger on it..."

"Don't dare lay a finger on it?"

My clothes and jewelry—borrowed. My wing of the manor—slipped into. And also my face, my husband—claimed. How many times had she laid hands on them.

My mother, the Matriarch, hurried down the steps, wanting to help Aubrey up.

"Silly child, what are you talking about. Your elder sister herself has agreed to withdraw the engagement. Talking about a younger sister snatching the elder sister's fiancé—that's an ugly way to put it.

"You just listen: this is an extremely good match; your aunt’s got you."

Aubrey cried and fell into my mother's arms; her shoulders rose and fell with sobs.

I understood her; she was waiting for a statement.

Waiting for my magnanimous abandoning, waiting for Caleb's shouldering it all.

Then those rumors would no longer fall upon her head.

Then she would reluctantly accept my fiancé, just like she had taken away many of my things before.

I caught her eye as she sobbed, and for a split second, the game behind the tears was clear. The maid by the door glanced down; Dad’s jaw tightened. Aubrey was waiting for public absolution, and the room knew it.