CHAPTER 236: NO ONE WOULD MAKE HER FEEL ASHAMED

The two women turned their horses around and prepared to leave the manor when their eyes fell upon that familiar scowl.

It was Riven.

He stood just a few paces from the garden wall, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade, his golden hair drawn back in a loose tie at the nape of his neck. Tall and broad-shouldered, Riven looked every inch the Dawnbreak officer he was, stoic, handsome, and visibly displeased to see them.

Serena exchanged glances with Charlotte and then offered Riven a placid smile. This, she thought grimly, was the worst possible person to encounter at this hour.

"Ambassador Serena," Riven said curtly, eyes flicking toward her before passing to Charlotte with less interest.

"Delegate Riven," she replied sweetly. "What a surprise. I had not expected to run into you so soon."

"I might say the same," he said coolly. "What brings the Crimsonclaw delegation to Blackthorn Keep this evening? Another surprise announcement, perhaps?"

Serena’s jaw tensed, but her smile didn’t falter. "Hardly," she said. "We were merely escorting Lady Amara and Lady Elen. A small courtesy after our ride."

Riven raised a brow. "How considerate. Though I was under the impression all four of you were to return to the castle. Guards were already arranged to escort the ladies from there."

Serena shrugged, the motion languid. "It seemed unnecessary to ride all the way back only to part ways again. The day was long. They were tired."

"And so you took it upon yourself to amend the arrangement," Riven said flatly, not quite a question. "Again."

"Is there a rule against such gestures?" Charlotte interjected mildly, her voice smooth as silk.

Riven did not answer, but the look he gave her was enough. He did not appreciate deviations. That much had always been obvious.

Serena shifted in her saddle. "Delegate," she said, her tone now less playful, "how is Lady Elen faring? I know this visit cannot be easy."

He blinked once, slowly. "That is not your concern."

"I was not asking as a political figure," she replied. "I asked as someone who is concerned as anyone else"

"And now you have betrayed her," Riven said. "Which makes it irrelevant."

Serena’s lips parted slightly, but Charlotte reached across and gave her reins a tug. "Well then," Charlotte said with a small nod, "we will not keep you further. The hour grows late."

Riven didn’t move, only offered a tight nod. "See that you don’t lose your way."

With that, he turned on his heel and vanished behind the stone wall.

The moment his footsteps faded, Charlotte let out a sharp exhale through her nose and nudged her horse forward. Serena followed, her expression stony, hands clenched in her gloves. They rode in silence for several minutes before Charlotte abruptly slowed, her posture stiff.

"Stop poking your nose into things that don’t concern you," she said, voice low and precise. "You have done enough."

Serena frowned. "I only asked a simple question."

"You asked a loaded question in front of a Dawnbreak delegate who already does not trust you."

Serena remained silent.

Charlotte glanced at her. "You do remember how you landed in this mess, don’t you? You could not mind your own business. You pulled Emmett out of that wild place, stitched him up, and when they started sniffing around, you stayed. You could have left. You could have run the minute he opened his mouth to the Alpha. But you stayed. And now you are playing diplomat for a land you don’t even belong to."

The words landed with a thud in Serena’s chest. She looked straight ahead, her lips pressed tightly together.

Charlotte’s tone softened a fraction, but only just. "You are not here because you were clever, Serena. You’re here because you were kind and stupid. And kind people die quickly in places like this."

Serena’s throat tightened. She looked away, gripping the reins harder.

"Are you finished?" she asked at last.

Charlotte didn’t answer.

"I know I made a mess of things," Serena said, voice rising with quiet anger. "I know what I am. But if you think being kind was a mistake, then you’re no better than the rest of them. Maybe I should have left Emmett, Anna and Jack in the gutter. Maybe I should have watched him bleed out. But I did not."

"You should have," Charlotte said. "We both know that now."

Serena turned sharply toward her. "So what then? I deserve all of this? Just punishment for not being cold enough?"

"You deserve to understand how the world works," Charlotte snapped. "And stop acting like your good heart is a shield."

Silence followed. The only sound was the clop of hooves against the trail and the hush of wind slipping through pine.Serena looked away again, guilt coiling in her gut. She hated how much of it seemed to be true. She hated that the weight in her chest wasn’t just fury, it was shame.

Was I idiotic after all? she wondered.

They didn’t speak again. Not as they neared the castle, nor as they passed through the quiet gates and toward the stables where lanterns were being lit one by one. When Serena dismounted, she said nothing. She didn’t look back. She walked straight to her chambers and shut the door behind her.

Serena sat on the edge of her bed, fingers curled into the fine stitching of the coverlet. Her jaw ached from holding it clenched, and her thoughts refused to still. Was it truly so foolish to care? To ask after someone’s well-being? To want to make things easier, even for a moment?

She pressed her palms against her eyes. Had kindness really led her into this tangle of lies and half-truths? Into diplomacy under a stolen title, where every word and glance was a blade waiting to slip between her ribs?

No. That wasn’t the whole truth.

She had been a healer in Silverstone. Long before Crimsonclaw, before Ironshade, before all the disguises. She had spent her days with blood on her hands and hope in her heart. That was who she was. A healer did not walk past pain. A healer did not look away.

And no one, no woman, no cold remark, no bitter truth would ever make her feel ashamed for that again.