Chapter 1
The day I found out I was carrying boy and girl twins, Gwendolyn Blackwood—Crown Prince Caspian Ravenscroft's first love—put on a ghost act just to scare me.
I was so terrified that I miscarried right then and there.
When she was exposed, she put on an innocent face.
"I was just messing around with Seraphina. Who knew she'd be so easily scared?" she cried.
Lying in a pool of blood, I heard the imperial physician declare my baby was gone, and I'd never be able to have children again.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Caspian held Gwendolyn—his first love—who was sobbing uncontrollably, and spoke softly to her, "You caused the death of my children. Don't you owe me for that?"
"Then I'll punish you by making you a secondary consort in the East Palace. You'll be bearing my children until the end of your days," he said.
"You're so bad, Your Highness." Gwendolyn blushed and lightly tapped his chest.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Two fully formed twins—one boy, one girl—meant nothing compared to one of Gwendolyn's jokes.
Consumed by rage, my heart couldn't take it. I hemorrhaged and died right there.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day the imperial physician told me I was carrying twins.
*****
"Congratulations, Crown Princess! You're carrying twins, a boy and a girl!" The imperial physician announced the news with joy, and everyone in the main hall bowed and offered their congratulations.
I placed a hand on my still-flat belly, my eyes lingering thoughtfully.
These were the same words, the same scene, as in my previous life.
Back then, I was so overjoyed that I immediately sent Hazel to inform Crown Prince Caspian.
Instead of seeing Crown Prince Caspian, Gwendolyn showed up pretending to be a ghost.
I lowered my gaze, hiding the hatred in my eyes, and turned to my maid. "Hazel, do something for me."
Hazel froze for a second.
But she didn't ask anything, just nodded and left without another word.
I picked up my cup and took a sip.
I was determined to give Gwendolyn an even grander stage for her little performance.
As darkness fell, the East Palace was eerily quiet.
Just like before, Crown Prince Caspian didn't show up.
Suddenly, a gust of wind flung the window open, and it slammed against the wall with a loud bang.
The candlelight flickered, and two of the candles went out.
The curtains billowed, looking just like a ghostly silhouette flickering across the room.
With a sudden gust, the candles snuffed out completely.
Cold, pale moonlight filtered in through the window.
Suddenly, the mirror on the dressing table reflected a ghastly white face.
Blood covered its features, eyes bulging out, and its mouth was split wide open, stretching all the way to the ears.
"Give me back my life!"
The ghost, her hair hanging loose and messy, crept out of the mirror bit by bit.
In my previous life, barely awake, I saw this and was scared out of my wits—I rolled right off the bed.
That fall was all it took to lose both my children.
This time, I was prepared.
I felt no fear this time.
But still, I let out a scream.
"Ghost! Somebody help me!"
I clutched the blanket and huddled into the corner of the bed, my voice trembling uncontrollably.
Outwardly, I looked terrified, but inside, I was calm, counting down in my mind: Hazel would be back soon.
Gwendolyn, disguised as a ghost, draped herself in a white sheet, her face smeared with fowl's blood.
Seeing me so terrified, a flash of glee danced in her eyes.
"Your Highness, you've made me suffer so much."
She deliberately stretched out her words, reaching toward me with hands stained in fowl's blood as she lunged.
I hugged my stomach, curled up tight, shouting, "Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!"
But deep down, I was secretly listening for any sounds from outside.
Gwendolyn took two more steps toward me.
And seeing me so terrified I could barely speak, she looked utterly pleased, ready to wrap up her little performance.
She turned around, planning to slip out through the back window.
This was my moment.
I grabbed the white sheet draped over her. "Your Majesty, please help me, there's a ghost!"
Gwendolyn froze, then spun around and glared at me. "Let go of me!"
I clung to her desperately, my voice rising in panic. "Help! She's trying to hurt me! She's trying to hurt my children!"
"Are you insane?" Gwendolyn muttered angrily under her breath, trying to pry my hands off her.
Just then, a eunuch servant's shrill voice rang out from the courtyard.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
Gwendolyn's face went pale, and she spun around, about to make a run for it.
But I held on for dear life, gripping her so tightly that no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free.
I yanked off most of the white sheet, exposing the pink dress she was wearing underneath.
Bang!
Someone kicked the door open.
Light flooded in, illuminating the entire room.
The Empress Dowager stood at the entrance, her gaze sweeping the room, her voice icy and commanding.
"Who's pretending to be a ghost in my palace? Seize her, now!" she ordered.
Several elder handmaidens rushed in and held Gwendolyn down on the floor.
One by one, the lamps in the room were lit, flooding the space with light.
The Empress Dowager strode over and took my hand.
"Sweet child, now that you're pregnant, why didn't you have more servants around? What if something had happened to you?" she asked.