Chapter 386

Fermin had closed his eyes, but at Pamela’s words, his eyes snapped open, full of anger.

His eyes blazing with fury, Fermin glared at her. “You refuse? By what right do you dare refuse me?” His icy tone instantly shattered the warmth that had just filled the air.

Fermin was growing irritated. He’d spoken to Pamela in a civil tone, yet she dared give him attitude.

“I have no right?” Pamela’s voice rose sharply as she turned and sat upright.

Tears welled in Pamela’s eyes. But seeing Fermin frown with that cold, indifferent look, she couldn’t help but think, ‘How can he be so dismissive?’ Her anger flared.

“Get up,” Pamela snapped, shoving Fermin and yanking the covers off him.

Fermin was utterly furious. He bolted upright and roared, “Stop this nonsense, Pamela.”

Pamela glared at Fermin and shot back, “Am I being unreasonable, or are you the one breaking your vows?”

Pamela’s voice dripped with unspeakable disappointment, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Have you forgotten what you swore when you sought my hand?

“You vowed never to take a concubine, to cherish only me. And now, after mere years, you’re already planning to take a secondary wife?”

“Did all those solemn vows just go for naught?” Pamela demanded, her voice trembling with betrayal.

Fermin’s temper flared at the mention of this. Back then, he’d had no political backing whatsoever.

He was politically isolated, with no solid foundation to rely on. Only by marrying Pamela could he secure her father’s political backing.

Only women truly took their vows to heart. For men, only grand ambitions mattered. Yet Pamela had actually taken those words to heart.

Fermin thought irritably, ‘Why can’t she understand? With my princely status, how could I possibly have only one principal wife? Even if I were willing, the Queen and the King would never consent.’

Fermin had always thought Pamela should have known better, but to his surprise, she was now using this very matter to give him grief.

“Things are different now, Pamela. Don’t you see how incredibly naive you sound? I’m a prince of the realm–how could I possibly have only you as my principal wife? Even commoners have several wives and concubines.

“If you had borne me a son, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But three years have passed, and all you’ve borne me is Lucky. Do you really think that’s justifiable?”

At Fermin’s icy words, Pamela’s eyes flew wide in shock. Tears fell heavily onto the back of her hand, drop by drop.

Pamela jabbed a finger at Fermin’s nose, her voice raw with pain as she shrieked, “Your Highness, how can you say such a heartless thing? Who knows better than you why Lucky is my only child?”

Years ago, while pregnant, Pamela went out with Fermin.

Unexpectedly, they were ambushed by assassins. In that perilous moment, Pamela threw herself in front of Fermin, shielding him.

The blade pierced through her abdomen, an inch to either side, and both she and her unborn child would have been dead.

The imperial physician exerted every effort to save both Pamela and her daughter.

Though Pamela survived, her body was permanently damaged–she could never conceive again.

Chapter 386

This matter was well known throughout the royal family, including the Queen and the King.

Yet now, Fermin was blaming Pamela for her infertility. She couldn’t possibly endure such cruelty.

Pamela’s bitter reproach struck a nerve, making Fermin flush with shame.

True, she had saved his life, but Fermin thought, ‘Haven’t I spent all these years making it up to you, Pamela?”

His household was spotless—not a single concubine or maid in sight, and nothing improper or disorderly about his private life. He didn’t even keep a bedmaid to warm his sheets.

‘I’ve done more than enough,’ Fermin thought to himself.

Seeing Pamela sobbing uncontrollably, Fermin sighed and gently drew her into his embrace. “Pamela,” he said softly, “I am a prince. Without a son, how could I possibly succeed to the throne?”

Fermin looked at Pamela and said coldly, “Even if I take a secondary wife, it won’t threaten your standing. They’ll merely be vessels for providing me with heirs.”

“Get away from me.” Pamela cried out, shattered by his words, as she shoved Fermin away.

Fermin was perched precariously on the edge of the bed, completely unprepared for Pamela’s sudden shove.

Off-balance, Fermin crashed to the floor. Fermin’s head struck the sharp corner of the table, and blood instantly gushed from the wound.

To Pamela’s shock, her accidental push had injured Fermin.

“Your Highness?” Pamela gasped in alarm and rushed to Fermin’s side to check his wound, only to feel the back of his head–her hand came away covered in blood.

Pamela was momentarily stunned, while Fermin erupted in rage.

“Pamela, have I been too soft on you?” Fermin snarled, his face twisted with fury. He looked as if he wanted to devour Pamela alive.

Fermin flung his sleeves and stormed out, leaving Pamela rooted to the spot, utterly stunned.

After a long moment, Pamela let out a hollow laugh, but the tears kept falling, unstoppable.

The next day, word of Fermin’s injury quickly reached the Queen.

“She’s utterly defiant. How dare she strike her husband?” The Queen’s face turned livid with rage as she roared, “Summon Pamela to the palace at once.”

Before long, Pamela was ushered into Phoenix Hall.

The moment Pamela appeared, the Queen roared, “Bow before me this instant.”

Pamela bowed deeply, her face ashen and her eyes lifeless, as if she had long since grown accustomed to such humiliation.

For all these years, the Queen had repeatedly used Pamela’s infertility and failure to produce a male heir as an excuse to torment her.

In the past, out of consideration for Fermin, Pamela always swallowed her grievances in silence.

Pamela dared not defy her–she was both the Queen and her mother-in-law.

Pamela had always believed Fermin knew she was being wronged and would stand up for her.

But now, Pamela finally understood–Fermin had never truly defended her. Even when he knew the Queen was tormenting her, he never lifted a finger to stop it.

Standing rigidly for hours of copying the bible as punishment, these daily humiliations had become routine for her.

Enough is enough, Pamela thought. No longer would she suffer in silence.

Pamela, recalling all the humiliations she’d endured, looked at the Queen with a sardonic gaze and said, “Your Majesty, isn’t that why you summoned me—to ask about His Highness’s injury?”

The Queen had intended to first assert her authority over Pamela, then offer her a conciliatory gesture.

The Queen knew that her carrot-and-stick approach would always make Pamela yield.

Only then could the matter of arranging a secondary wife for Fermin proceed smoothly, the Queen thought.

Yet to the Queen’s astonishment, Pamela stood her ground with unshakable defiance today.

‘How dare Pamela defy me?’ the Queen thought, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The Queen’s eyes widened in disbelief as she fixed a cold, piercing gaze on Pamela and demanded, “You injured your husband, yet you act as if nothing happened. Tell me, Pamela—who gave you the nerve to behave so brazenly?”

“Your Majesty, punish me as you see fit—I’ll bear it without complaint.” Pamela straightened her posture, her voice firm and defiant. “But as for taking a concubine, I will never consent to it.”

The Queen nearly laughed in disbelief. “You refuse? By what right do you dare refuse? Just because you hail from the Beren Manor?

“A married daughter is none of your family’s business—you can’t take her back. Know your place, Pamela. As Fermin’s wife, it is your duty to arrange for your husband to take concubines and bear him heirs. How dare you refuse? Are you trying to defy the royal family?”

With those final words, the Queen’s voice suddenly rose to a commanding pitch.

She intended to use the full weight of her imperial authority to overawe Pamela and force her into submission.

Unexpectedly, Pamela raised her head and met the Queen’s gaze with calm determination. In a steady, deliberate voice, she said, “When His Highness asked for my hand, he vowed I would be his only wife.

“It was for him that I took that sword thrust—the wound that left me barren.

“Now, Your Majesty, you are using this matter to force my submission. I must beg your pardon, but I cannot comply.

“In this lifetime, His Highness shall have only me as his wife—I will never share my husband with another woman.”