Chapter 2
After saying that, I couldn't hold on any longer. I was about to pass out.
But the imperial physician stuck a needle in me.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
He said, "Madam, you can't sleep. If you do, you might never wake up. Think about your husband, your child, they're still waiting for you!"
Earl quickly added, "That's right. You saved my life. Once you're better, I'll grant you the title of Madam Protector.
"You'll enjoy all the riches and honor. And the baby you're carrying, if it's a girl, I'll marry her to a Prince.
"If it's a boy, he'll be a big shot in court. Don't give up now. I've already sent people to look for Aiken!"
Hearing Earl make those promises, I managed a bitter smile.
I was no fool. The moment I took that arrow for him, I already knew my baby wouldn't make it.
As for Aiken, he'd never come.
Just then, the guy Earl sent to find Aiken came rushing back, out of breath.
He fell to his knees with a loud thud, keeping his head down, not daring to meet Earl's eyes.
Earl's brows furrowed, his fury barely contained.
"Where's Aiken?" Earl barked.
The servant trembled, his voice barely above a whisper.
He said, "Mr. Henry refused to come. He said not to use these cheap tricks to play the sympathy card."
The servant kept banging his head on the floor, the sound echoing in the room.
I knew there was no way that was all Aiken said. He must've said way nastier things, but the servant didn't dare repeat them with Earl right there.
In Aiken's eyes, I was never worth even half as much as Roxanne/
But I was his lawful wife, the one he married with all the proper rites, while Roxanne was just a concubine.
Yet for her, he'd risk Earl's safety, leading the imperial guards just to pamper her.
I had to beg him for that flare before he left.
In my previous life, when I fired the flare, he called me vain. And now, even with Earl sending someone to fetch him, he didn't even care to come.
If he loved Roxanne that much, I felt that he shouldn't have bothered marrying me at all.
Anger surged in me, and I coughed up blood again.
The imperial physician, his hat barely hanging on, nervously glanced at Earl.
He said, "Your Highness, Lady Nicole is extremely upset. If she doesn't have any family with her right now, I'm afraid she might not pull through."
Earl looked at me, but in the end, he managed to hold back his anger.
He pulled off the emerald pendant from his belt and tossed it to the servant.
"Tell him this is my order. If he doesn't come, I'll have him killed!" Earl snapped.
Earl was truly furious.
He's always surrounded by guards, but today, when the assassination went down, not a single guard was in sight when he needed them most.
I threw myself in harm's way to save him, and he couldn't even get my husband to come. For someone who was supposed to be untouchable, that was an utter humiliation.
I was completely helpless, kept alive only by the imperial physician's desperate acupuncture, just hanging on and waiting for that life-saving potion to finally be ready.
By the time the servant came back with another report, I was still conscious enough to catch his voice.
This time, the servant wasn't alone.
I struggled to open my eyes and saw a face burned into my memory from my previous life, Roxanne's maid, Isabella Greenwood.
Isabella was once my maid, but after I got pregnant, she slipped poison into my food. By the time anyone realized, I was already at death's door.
I wasn't about to let Isabella get away with it. I was ready to end her right there, but just as I raised my hand, Aiken came in with Roxanne on his arm.
I could still remember the way Aiken looked at me, so cold, as if I wasn't his wife, but someone he hated more than anyone else.
Roxanne was sobbing uncontrollably, clutching Isabella's hand and giving me that pitiful look.
She said, "How could you be so heartless? You didn't even die, so why insist on punishing the maid? That's just cruel. Aiken, why not let me take her? I may only be a concubine, but I can at least save a maid."
Aiken looked at Roxanne and sighed, clearly exasperated.
He said, "You're always so compassionate, Roxanne. She's right, Nicole. You survived, so why make such a fuss? Just let Isabella go with Roxanne. Stop making such a big deal out of this."
I stared at Aiken in utter disbelief. I was pregnant with his childand nearly poisoned to death. He actually thought I had no right to complain just because I survived. That was insane.
But back then, I still had feelings for Aiken. I believed Roxanne had clouded his judgment, and as his lawful wife, I thought I should be gracious and let it slide.
It wasn't until one day that I caught Aiken talking to Roxanne.
He looked at her like she was the only one in the world.
"You know, next time you try to poison her, be more careful. If you get caught again, I won't help you," he said.
Roxanne pouted and snuggled up to his arm, acting all cute.
"Okay, I get it. Thank you, honey," Roxanne cooed, clinging to his arm.
Isabella grinned off to the side.