The Dragon Lord's Rejected Wife

Delphine Winters POV:

I stood in the shadows, a ghost at my own husband's homecoming feast. I watched as Erwin was surrounded by his family, Beryl clinging to his side like a frightened rabbit. The boy, Theo, was already perched on Matilda's lap, being fed a piece of dragon-flame baked pastry.

That should have been for the child I was never able to bear him—the child we might have had, had he ever truly come home to me. A sharp pain lanced through my chest, but I forced my face to remain a mask of indifference.

Finally, Erwin broke away from the crowd and walked toward me, holding two goblets. They were made of dragon-crystal, shimmering in the firelight, vessels only dragon-kin nobility were permitted to use. He offered one to me.

I didn't take it. "I'm not thirsty, Lord Ward."

His face hardened. "Delphine, we need to talk."

"I think we have nothing to talk about." I turned to leave.

He grabbed my wrist. His hand was hot, like a brand. "Don't be like this."

I looked down at his grip, my voice dripping with ice. "Please let go. Your partner is waiting for you."

Erwin took a deep breath, his voice low and urgent. "Beryl and Theo will be living here now. I need you to give them the Lakeview Pavilion."

The Lakeview Pavilion. The most beautiful, spacious residence on the entire estate. By tradition, it was the home of the lady of House Ward. I had lived there for five years. Now he was asking me to give it to another woman.

I laughed. It was a soft, brittle sound. "Of course. It won't be my place for much longer anyway."

He stared at me, stunned by my easy agreement, completely missing the meaning behind my words.

I pulled my arm from his grasp, not giving him another glance, and walked toward the corridor that led to my own residence, the Azure Pavilion. I could feel his gaze burning into my back, but I didn't turn around. The moment he walked through that door with her, everything between us had turned to ash.

When I reached my rooms, my maids, Clara and Mina, were waiting anxiously.

"My lady," Clara whispered, her eyes red. "They are too cruel!"

I sank wearily into a chair as Mina poured me a cup of hot tea. "It's useless to say that now."

"So we just accept it?" Mina asked, her voice tight with indignation.

"Of course not," I said, lifting the cup and watching the steam curl into the air. "But not now."

My plan would require time. Patience. And the perfect moment.

A hurried knock came at the door. It was Erwin's personal manservant.

"My lady," the servant panted. "Lady Eleanor has requested Lord Ward's presence. The lord is... in a temper. But he asked me to inform you that he is coming to your court."

I raised an eyebrow. Erwin, coming here? Forced by his mother, no doubt.

A few moments later, I heard his heavy footsteps. He hesitated outside my door before finally pushing it open. He had changed out of his uniform and into a casual tunic embroidered with the red-gold dragon of his house. It made him look less like a soldier and more like a man consumed by irritation.

He waved my maids away, leaving us alone.

He didn't look at me, pacing to the window instead. "My mother sent me to explain."

"Explain what?" I asked, my voice flat. "How you found 'true love' on the battlefield? Or how you can live comfortably on my family's wealth while supporting a mistress and child elsewhere?"

He spun around, his face a mask of fury at being so accurately called out. "It's not like that! Beryl..."

He bit back his words, the anger dissolving into a frustrated sigh. "Delphine, I know I owe you. But you can't deny there's been no affection between us for a long time."

"So that's your excuse for betrayal?" I scoffed.

He had no answer, only pacing the room like a caged beast.

This was all going as I'd predicted. Eleanor, that clever woman, knew where the lifeblood of House Ward truly lay. She was afraid I would cut off the funds in a fit of anger, so she forced her selfish son to come here and offer false comfort.

A pity for them. It was too late. My heart had died the moment I saw that woman.

Erwin finally stopped pacing. He stood before me, reaching for my hand. I pulled it away.

"Delphine," he said, his voice strained. "Just give me some time. I'll handle this."