Chapter 4: The Last Box

The day before I left for Highmoor, I gathered up everything Gavin had ever given me.

In the end, it only filled one small box.

That was when I realized he hadn’t actually given me very much at all.

There had been a few things in the early years. Later, he only bought me expensive gifts when he’d upset me or when he needed to make up for disappointing me.

I opened the box and looked through everything slowly.

There was a silver bracelet he had given me when I turned eighteen, a pair of pearl earrings from our engagement ceremony, and several small trinkets from festivals and holidays.

At the very bottom was one of the rabbit lanterns he had bought for me when I was seven.

The paper had faded with age, and one of the ears was slightly bent.

I picked it up and smiled faintly.

Back then, I had believed those ten lanterns meant I was special to him.

Maybe I had been.

Just not anymore.

Mia stood beside the bed, watching me silently.

“Are you really taking none of this with you?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“No. I don’t need them.”

She hesitated before asking, “What about the engagement ring?”

I looked down at the ring on my finger.

It had been custom-made six years ago, with a pale blue stone surrounded by tiny diamonds. I used to think it represented the future Gavin and I were going to build together.

Now it felt like a chain.

I pulled it off and placed it inside the box.

“Send it back with the engagement dissolution papers.”

Mia’s eyes widened.

“Celia…”

“It belongs to the Mercer family now.”

I closed the lid.

For six years, I had guarded this relationship as though it were the most precious thing in my life.

Yet when I finally let it go, I felt surprisingly light.

That evening, my mother came to my room.

She looked at the packed suitcases and frowned.

“You’re actually leaving for three years?”

“Yes.”

“What about Gavin?”

I continued folding my clothes.

“He has Evelyn.”

My mother’s expression changed.

“Celia, don’t be childish. Gavin only postponed the wedding because he was worried about your sister.”

I looked at her calmly.

“He has postponed it three times.”

She fell silent.

For once, I didn’t explain myself or apologize.

After a while, she sighed.

“At least wait until Evelyn is settled. She’s already feeling guilty.”

I almost laughed.

“She doesn’t need to feel guilty. I’m not asking either of you for anything anymore.”

My mother stared at me as if she were seeing a stranger.

Perhaps I had finally become one.

Later that night, I received a message from Gavin.

He wanted to see me.

I didn’t reply.

A few minutes later, another message arrived.

“Celia, don’t be angry. I know you’re upset, but you’ll understand once you think about Evelyn’s situation.”

I deleted it.

Then came another.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

I deleted that one, too.

For the first time in six years, I didn’t wait for his next message.

I turned off my phone and went to sleep.

The next morning, the Royal Castle’s carriage arrived before sunrise.

Grandmother came outside to see me off.

She hugged me tightly, and for the first time in months, I allowed myself to cry.

“Three years is a long time,” she whispered.

“Use those three years to become whoever you want to be.”

I nodded against her shoulder.

“I will.”

Before I climbed into the carriage, I looked back at the house where I had spent twenty-two years of my life.

My mother stood beside Evelyn.

Gavin wasn’t there.

I wasn’t surprised.

I took one final breath and climbed inside.

The carriage began moving toward the Royal Castle.

Only after the capital disappeared behind the hills did I take out the sealed envelope I had prepared the night before.

Inside were the official papers dissolving my engagement to Gavin Mercer.

I handed them to the royal courier traveling with us.

“Please deliver these to the Mercer family’s private estate.”

He looked at the envelope, then at me.

“Are you certain, Miss Langford?”

I looked out through the carriage window.

For six years, I had waited for Gavin to choose me.

Now, I was choosing myself.

“Yes,” I said. “I’m certain.”