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Ella Black (née Max)

It had been just one ridiculous, stupid mistake.

I loved my husband. Of course I did. It was often the case that the participants of an arranged marriage were forced to spend their natural lives together in loveless harmony, but it wasn't the case for Cygnus and I. We loved one another from the moment we laid eyes on each other. I was happy to wed him, and even happier to bear his children.

So of course, you understand that my infidelities were entirely accidental.

Everyone always said that Arcturus was so charming, and he really, truly was. From a young age he was blessed with his father's good looks, and he certainly knew how to use them to his advantage. He flirted with all of the women around him, so I knew not to expect that the sweet nothings he spoke to me were meant for me alone. But yet...

For years I blamed Cygnus for my indiscretion. If he had not left for his sister's home, none of it would have happened. Arcturus, then at the ripe young age of twenty, was spending the evening at Grimmauld Place with us for dinner, and it was during dessert that Cygnus suggested that the two brothers took a visit to see Misapinoa and her husband, with the intention of discussing the care of their consummated mother. Arcturus almost choked on his wine at this idea, and quickly began to dab at his lips and chin with a napkin.

"My my, brother. I have not seen our dear sister since..." an air of thoughtfulness crossed over his face. "Two years, now."

"I am sure she will be delighted at a visit from her only brothers, Arcturus," Cygnus continued. "Come, the two of us will make tracks and travel there tonight. Mother is getting more and more ill by the day, so we need to make plans for her wellbeing."

Arcturus waved a hand and scoffed. "Misa has not spoken to me since I was eighteen. We don't get along, we never have. You know this, brother," he took another drink of his wine, and his eyes met mine across the table. I felt my stomach flutter. "Why don't I stay here and mind your family, and you visit our sister."

Cygnus took a moment to consider this, before finally nodding at his brother. "Excellent idea. You may spend the night keep Ella in good spirits, and I will return tomorrow evening," with that final statement, Cygnus left the table.

It was only mere hours after Cygnus's departure that I found myself utterly enticed by Arcturus's charms. We were sitting together on the red plush loveseat, the same chair that Cygnus and I had made love on for the very first time. But somehow, that wasn't the thought that was running through my mind.

All I could focus on were my brother-in-law's hands, which were cascading down my back and fingering at my corset strings. Those sinful hands; back then of which I had no idea were capable of committing the atrocities that they had. His honeyed mouth was pressing against my neck; his tongue lacing sickly sweet words against the shell of my ear.

In front of the fire and on that scarlet loveseat, Arcturus made love to me in the most intrusive and desirable way possible.

I never told my husband, of course. When, nine months later, I produced a daughter and named her Elladora, I still did not let on to Cygnus that Elladora was not his baby. I could never ruin him in that way.

And then, just over a year later, when Cygnus told me what Arcturus had done to Misapinoa, I still could not confess my sins to my husband.

Instead, I bore the pain like a thorny wreath, and wore it upon my crown until I died.