Not the One at the End of the Path

Caspian began to grow restless. He couldn't stand the way nothing fazed me.

So, he changed tactics. To trigger me, he started to indulge Thalia on purpose, letting her cross lines just to provoke me.

That night, she stayed in his study until late. I brought him a glass of milk, and when I pushed the door open, I saw her sitting on his lap, wearing his shirt.

Caspian noticed me, but he didn't push Thalia away. Instead, he looked straight at me, like he was challenging me.

I stood at the doorway and watched the scene. Yet my heart remained unmoved.

Had this been two years ago, I would've cried, made a scene, and shouted at him without holding back. Now, all I could think about was how uncomfortable their position looked and how the milk was getting cold.

"Sorry to interrupt," I said as I walked in and set the glass on the desk. I even closed the half-open window for them. "It gets windy at night, so don't catch a cold. Carry on."

I turned and left, closing the door behind me.

The moment the door shut, Caspian's furious roar exploded from inside. "Get the hell out of my face right now!"

Right after that came Thalia's tearful sobs.

That night, Caspian stormed into my room. He reeked of alcohol as he grabbed me and shoved me down onto the bed. "Seraphine, are you even human anymore?"

His eyes were red as he stared at me. "After everything I did, you don't feel anything? Do you just not love me anymore?"

I looked at him as he unraveled in front of me and gently wiped away the tear at the corner of his eye. My voice was as soft as always.

"Don't do this, Caspian. I just think that if you like her, I can step aside. I'll do anything as long as you're happy."

"No, I'm not! I'm not happy at all!" he cried out, burying his face in the crook of my neck and wailing like a helpless child. "I want you to love me… Hit me, hate me, yell at me—do anything to me, but don't treat me like you're a robot…"

I let Caspian cry against me until my sleepwear was soaked through. I quietly counted down the days. There was just a little over a month left…

Once I endured another month, the task would end. I would take the money I'd earned and walk away. Caspian's pain was his own doing, and it had nothing to do with me.

I thought the days would just keep passing like this, caught between my own numbness and his slow descent into madness, until Thalia came looking for me.

"You disgust me, Seraphine."

In the garden, she stared at me with venom in her eyes. "You don't love him, so why are you still clinging to him? Look at what he's become now! You've driven him to this state!"

I trimmed the flower branches and replied flatly, "That was his choice."

Thalia let out a cold laugh. "Just you wait. Soon, you'll lose your privilege to stay by his side."

I didn't understand what she meant, so I didn't take it seriously. Still, I hadn't anticipated her methods to be so ruthless.