Regret Comes Too Late, My Lords

Selene's POV

A hundred years ago, old Duke Rowland saved me with a bowl of hot soup when I was dying. To repay him, I swore myself, as the Silver Wolf Goddess, to a hundred-year covenant protecting House Rowland.

I taught Garrett how to hold a sword. I turned Caleb into a prodigy at the Mages' Guild. I saved Preston's family from ruin.

But Lillian took a potion to fake being sick, and all it took was her claiming only my heart could save her to turn three men's knives on me.

In my last life, I begged them to listen, told them that cutting out my heart would tear down the foundation of House Rowland itself. They finally backed off.

Then Lillian, trying to keep the lie going, secretly upped her dose and poisoned herself to death in her own bed.

The three of them lost their minds and blamed me for her death.

"A beast doesn't get to call itself the guardian of House Rowland. Die."

They cut my heart out. I died on that altar.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day they took my heart.

This time, I didn't waste my breath. I handed it over myself and let them have what they wanted.

The goddess's heart fell. The covenant ended.

They just didn't know yet how badly House Rowland would fall apart without me.

The moment the mithril chains bite through my bones, I know I'm back.

"Selene, don't hate us for this."

Garrett Rowland stands in front of me, a dagger glinting cold in his hand. There isn't a trace left of the reverence he used to have for me.

"Lillian's heart keeps failing. The priests at the Temple of Light say only a goddess's heart can save her."

To his left stands Caleb Ashworth, Lillian's childhood friend.

Lightning gathers in Caleb's palm. He looks at me, cold. "Selene, you're the guardian of House Rowland. You've had a hundred years of our family's devotion. Lillian's dying, and you're going to make a fuss over one heart? You're a goddess. Losing a heart just weakens you for a few years. It won't kill you."

To his right is Preston Carrington, Lillian's fiancé.

Preston's face twists in disgust. "Save the talk. The duke and duchess are still out in the Elven Realm looking for a cure. We don't have time to waste. Lillian's coughing up blood right now. Just cut the damn thing out already, what are you waiting for?"

I lift my head and give the three of them a cold look. Three men I watched grow up.

The first time Garrett held a sword, I was the one who taught him. The first time he went to battle, I took my wolf form and took a poisoned arrow meant to kill him.

Caleb had no talent for magic. I burned through my own power to force him into the role of the Guild's prodigy.

Preston's family once stood on the edge of ruin. I worked a miracle, scared off everyone circling them, and saved his fortune.

They used to call me "sister" every other sentence. Used to call me their most beloved goddess.

Then Lillian grew up, and everything changed.

That sweet girl who used to cling to me and beg for attention turned into a woman eaten up by envy.

She hated how close they were to me, hated that I stood above everyone else in this family. So she started faking illness, clutching her chest, claiming my presence alone was enough to hurt her heart.

To please her, these three men turned their blades on me without a second thought.

Every memory from my last life flashes through my head. I watch Garrett's dagger close in and let my eyes fall shut, exhausted.

"You want to cut my heart out while the duke and duchess are gone?"

Garrett freezes for a second, thrown off by how calm I sound.

"Selene, just cooperate and I promise I'll get you the best potions to recover afterward. Lillian doesn't have time."

"That's right." Caleb gives a cold snort. "Fight us on this and you'll find out just how merciless my lightning can be. Your life belongs to House Rowland in the first place. It's time you paid it back."

A hundred years ago, I really was freezing to death in a blizzard, and old Duke Rowland happened to pass by and gave me a bowl of hot soup.

For that one bowl of soup, I signed myself to a hundred-year covenant, tied myself to this family, took every blow meant for them, and smoothed every path for them.

A hundred years. That debt should've been paid off a long time ago.

My voice comes out flat. "Cut my heart out and I die."

"Don't you dare play the victim!" Preston explodes. "You're a goddess! You don't just die that easily! You want Lillian to die, don't you? You vicious animal."

Animal.

That's what a hundred years of protecting them gets me.

The corner of my mouth curls, humorless.

This time, I'm not going to waste my breath trying to convince them.

I square my shoulders and step straight into Garrett's blade. "Go ahead."

My willingness stops all three of them cold. They'd come armed with a whole speech of guilt trips and threats, and now it lands like a punch thrown at a pillow. Their faces go livid with frustration.