CHAPTER 726: CHAPTER 113 - TRIS (1)

Tris’s POV

My father’s hand came down hard across my cheek, a loud, sharp crack echoing through the cold room.

The sheer force of the slap made my glasses fly from my face.

I heard them hit the ground with a brittle snap, and when I looked down, the lenses were cracked, fractured like my pride.

But I didn’t even get the chance to reach for them.

Before my hand could move, my mother’s palm collided with the other side of my face.

The slap was twice as hard.

The blow sent me reeling, my knees giving way, and I collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving floor.

"You really are a fucking useless disappointment," my father spat, towering above me like I was nothing. "I can’t believe I actually thought you’d be good enough—worthy enough—to become the wife of the next Sword Saint. What a fucking disgrace."

"And you let Johanne slip through your fingers?" my mother snarled, her sharp voice stabbing at my ears like shards of glass. She stood above me with a sneer, hands on her hips, eyes full of venom. "How the hell did she turn out to be a woman all this time? You didn’t know anything about this?"

She snapped her eyes toward my father, demanding an answer.

"N-No, I didn’t..." he stammered, avoiding her gaze.

Obviously lying.

But my mother waved it off with a scoff, like his incompetence was already a given.

"It doesn’t matter," she hissed, turning her glare back on me. "What matters is that this woman failed. She failed the one task she had. I knew she was a disgrace, but even I didn’t think she’d fuck it up this badly. This kind of failure sets a new record."

My cheek throbbed where her hand had landed.

I slowly brought my fingers to it, feeling the sting bloom like a bruise beneath the skin.

But honestly... I couldn’t even feel much anymore.

Their words were just noise.

Painful, yes—but the kind of pain I had become numb to.

It was already done.

The damage was already there.

Nothing they said could undo it.

Nothing could make it worse than it already was.

Tomorrow, Johanne and I would be officially annulled.

Our marriage would be erased.

The church, bound by its laws, wouldn’t allow two women to be married. That simple rule shattered everything.

Because of this, my father was now facing backlash—heavy political pressure.

Though not nearly as much as the Sword Saint, who bore the scandal’s brunt.

"What the hell am I even supposed to do with you now?" my father sighed, disgust heavy in his voice. "You’re completely worthless."

"Even if the marriage is annulled, it doesn’t erase the stain," my mother chimed in. "She’s been married. That alone makes her damaged goods. Used up. No one wants someone like that."

I sat motionless, every word landing on me like a brick.

But they weren’t done.

"There’s still one option," my father muttered grimly.

"To marry her off to Earl Prisk," my mother said, as if it was the most obvious solution. "That old bastard is still hoarding wives like livestock. He doesn’t care if she’s been married before. In fact, I doubt he even remembers most of their names."

I felt my stomach twist into a cold knot.

I knew who Earl Prisk was. Everyone did.

A grotesque man rumored to have over fifty wives, most married off as a form of collateral damage—sacrifices from ruined families.

And now, I was to be one of them.

Honestly... maybe it was better than staying here in this house of cruelty and poison.

At least over there, I would only have to do one thing.

Spread my legs. Have sex with him. Let him use me. Just that.

Maybe that was better.

...No.

I was terrified.

No—fuck that—I was absolutely scared.

I didn’t want this.

I didn’t want to be sent to that place like some defective product being thrown away.

Someone... please...

Someone, save me.

I whispered that cry in my mind, silent and desperate, but deep down I already knew—

Like always, I wasn’t going to get what I wanted.

***

Leon’s POV

Johanne came running up to me, her breathing labored, chest rising and falling rapidly.

Sweat clung to her forehead, and she looked completely out of breath—as if she’d sprinted all the way just to get here.

We were all seated together—me, Titania, Tris, Yr... and even Isiliraiellyn had joined us for some reason.

Johanne’s eyes locked onto mine. They were filled with urgency, panic laced beneath the surface.

"I’m sorry, Leon," she said, trying to steady her breath. "But can I ask for a moment of your time?"

Her eyes darted nervously to the others at the table.

"I-Is that okay with all of you?"

Titania smiled warmly, sensing the tension. "Sure."

I nodded and pushed myself up from my seat, following Johanne out of the cafeteria.

We stopped just around the corner, away from the others.

Once we were alone, her words came fast.

"Tris suddenly dropped out of the academy," she blurted.

"What?"

My mind stuttered, trying to process the words.

"Wait... she dropped out? Why?"

"I don’t know exactly," she said, her tone quieting. "But if I had to guess..."

She let her voice fade, trailing into silence.

But I already knew what she was implying.

This had to be about the annulment.

"I’ve been calling her—trying over and over—but she’s not answering," Johanne added, frustration tightening her voice. "I want to go to her estate. I wanted to tell you first."

"I’ll come with you," I said firmly.

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"Tris has helped you out so much, right? And honestly... she’s kind of become a friend to me too. If she’s in trouble, I will help her."

Tris might’ve been annoying sometimes—a full-blown fujoshi through and through—but deep down, she was a good person. A real friend. A good woman who didn’t deserve any of this shit.

If she was in danger, if she needed someone...

Then I’d be the one to show up.

"Thank you," Johanne whispered.

And with that, we set out together toward the estate of Tris’s family.

Toward whatever awaited us inside.