Chapter 3

"Ledger? My apologies, Mr. Rothwell, but I happen to have one as well," Luna said smugly. "It clearly records that Selena embezzled a total of three million dollars. And what a coincidence—Ms. Valtara's personal account shows an expense of exactly three million dollars just yesterday."

Luna's smile darkened as she continued, "It's hard not to suspect that Ms. Valtara knew about our audit beforehand and took measures to transfer the stolen funds."

Everyone turned to look at me in confusion.

"Ms. Valtara, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Reyn's voice was cold, but there was a hint of expectation hidden beneath.

Yet no one knew about my mechanical heart, except for Ivy, my witch doctor. To my colleagues at the Sanctuary of Healing, I was simply a poor woman with a weak heart; they didn't think it was anything serious enough to disrupt my daily life.

"There's nothing to explain, Reyn. You, of all people, should know exactly where that three million dollars came from." My voice was calm.

Standing beside me, Luna gritted her teeth and hissed low enough so only I could hear, "Three million dollars! What makes you think you deserve it?"

Then, louder and sweeter, she said, "Ms. Valtara, just tell the truth. Maybe if you explain everything, Reyn will even forgive you for abandoning him back then."

She knew exactly how to provoke him.

"Since the evidence I have on hand is undeniable, that means Mr. Rothwell's ledger must be fake," Reyn declared, his fury boiling over.

"Guards! Arrest the director of the Sanctuary of Healing and the entire financial department! Take them to the Wolfkin Prison and prepare them for interrogation!"

The Wolfkin Prison—even if one survived that place, they wouldn't leave unscathed.

"Wait! Reyn, I know you just want to humiliate me, but I beg you—don't drag innocent people into this." I softened my voice, hoping to spare my colleagues from unjust punishment.

"Beg me?" Reyn let out a mocking laugh. "Is that how you plead for mercy, Selena?"

"Then what will it take for you to let them go?"

"At the very least, kneel before me and beg properly."

"Fine."

It was just kneeling—nothing more. At this point, dignity no longer mattered to me.

Reyn's eyes flickered with a trace of surprise, as if he hadn't expected me to agree so easily.

"Maybe that's too much, darling," Luna cooed, wrapping her arm around his. "It's not right to humiliate Ms. Valtara in front of her concerned colleagues. Instead, let's settle this the most sacred way in the Wolfkin—through a duel."

Reyn's expression relaxed into one of indulgence. "As expected of my little sweetheart. You're so considerate and wise."

Luna turned to me. "Ms. Valtara, do you accept my challenge to a duel?"

Luna stood tall and confident, already certain of her victory—and rightfully so. In my current state, a duel, the ultimate test of a warrior's honor among the Frostfang Clan, was the last thing I could endure.

"Luna, why trouble yourself?" Reyn chuckled, his voice filled with amusement. "I'd feel terrible if you got hurt. Let's make this fair. How about we let the champion of the Rite of Seven Thrones take your place?"

His smirk deepened. "Selena, it would be beneath your former title as the Shieldmaiden of the Moonlit Pack to fight anyone weaker than that, wouldn't it?"

The champion was a warrior whose strength far surpassed mine, Randy Lockhart.

My heart, despite already being so weak, steadied itself with eerie calm.

"Reyn, if I accept this duel, will you let Mr. Rothwell and the others go?"

"See for yourself." Reyn motioned to his guards, who immediately loosened their grip on my colleagues.

"You can't, Selena!" Mr. Rothwell protested, his face pale with worry. "Your heart—your condition won't allow it! A Wolfkin duel requires immense physical exertion." Turning to Reyn, he begged, "Selena has been cautious all these years. Your Highness, please show mercy and spare her."

Reyn let out a quiet laugh. "Selena, even after all these years, you still have a way of making people rally behind you. You've deceived them, just like you once deceived me."

I took a slow breath. "Reyn, if I accept this duel, will you lend me another two million dollars? And will you stop slandering me and halt your investigation? Will you leave the innocent out of this?"

Two million dollars more. That was all I needed for the surgery.

I wanted to live. This duel was my last chance.

Reyn's ice-blue eyes darkened, his pupils narrowing into slits, like a predator about to strike.

He roared in fury, "Money, money, money! Is that all you ever think about, Selena?" Then, through clenched teeth, he spat, "Fine! I'll agree. You'll get the money if you can survive this duel!"

The moment the words left his mouth, I ripped off the ropes binding me and flexed my numb wrists.

Summoning the power of the Eclipseborn Might within me, I whispered, "Let's begin."

Radny moved first, his foot flying toward my head.

I wasn't fast enough. His kick landed squarely against my stomach, sending me stumbling back. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

As expected of a Rite of Seven Thrones champion—his Eclipseborn Might was far superior to mine.

I retaliated with a spinning kick, but Randy barely staggered before countering with a vicious wolf claw strike.

After just one round, my stamina was nearly depleted. Sweat dropped down my forehead, my breaths growing rapid, my vision doubling.

Desperate, I searched for a way to win—some loophole, some trick.

But before I could act, Randy's claw slashed across my back. A burst of searing pain shot through me, and blood sprayed from my mouth.

Was this it? Was I about to lose? Or worse—die?

If I died here, at least Reyn would leave Mr. Rothwell and the others alone.

As my consciousness flickered, a familiar voice tore through the haze.

"Reyn Aldric! How could you let Selena fight? She's the one who gave you her heart! She's only alive because of a mechanical one! If she continues this duel, she will die!"