Chapter 3

Seeing that, Caspian's face went dark. "Seraphina, how dare you mess with witchcraft!

"Looks like Gwendolyn did nothing wrong. She was just helping me catch you, you poisonous woman!" he fumed.

"You're the one who should be punished!" he stormed.

"Your Highness," I cut him off, keeping my voice steady. "There are people in and out of my palace every day.

"How can you be sure it was me? Anyone could have stuffed something in that vase, even Gwendolyn herself."

Hearing that, Gwendolyn froze, then shrieked, "You're still trying to wriggle out of this?"

I ignored her, picked up the voodoo doll, and held it right in front of Caspian. "Your Highness, maybe you should take a closer look?" I suggested.

Caspian looked down at the back of the voodoo doll, his whole body frozen in shock.

On it was a single name: Seraphina Ravenscroft.

It was my name.

I let out a cold laugh inside.

In my previous life, after I died, Gwendolyn pulled this voodoo doll out of the vase and said I was doomed by fate and that I deserved to die.

She got herself a reputation as the one who exposed the villainess and waltzed right into the East Palace.

But this time, I'd already switched the voodoo doll ahead of time, before she started her ghost act.

I wiped the corner of my eye, pretending to cry, my voice trembling.

"Your Highness, even if I were stupid, I wouldn't curse myself. If I really put this here myself, why would I write my own name on it?

"I guess...this is just Gwendolyn's idea of a prank, isn't it?" I cried aggrievedly.

Gwendolyn's face went ghostly pale. "I-I didn't—"

She stammered, unable to string together a single coherent sentence.

The Empress Dowager's expression was as dark as midnight. "Guards, drag this malicious creature out and beat her to death!"

"Grandmother!" Caspian said, frantic. "Gwendolyn is still young and naive, please, spare her life!" he pleaded.

But the Empress Dowager ignored him completely.

Two elder handmaidens stepped forward to drag Gwendolyn away.

She was so terrified that she looked like she might faint on the spot.

"Your Majesty, please spare me! Please, I beg you, I know I messed up!" she pleaded.

My gaze fell. The faintest smile touched my lips.

In this life, she was not getting away.

Just then, a sharp female voice pierced the air from outside the courtyard.

"Hold, Mother!

"Gwendolyn is carrying Caspian's baby! You can't kill her!"

The room instantly went silent.

Caspian froze.

Gwendolyn also froze in shock.

The Empress Dowager fixed her gaze on the Empress, her eyes heavy. "What did you just say?"

The Empress straightened her back and said, "Gwendolyn found out she was pregnant a month ago. It's Caspian's child.

"I was going to wait a bit before telling you, but with things like this, I have to say it now."

Hearing that, the Empress Dowager paused, then turned to Caspian. "Crown Prince Caspian, is this true?" she pressed.

Caspian opened his mouth, but couldn't get a single word out.

Gwendolyn seized the chance, clung to Caspian's leg, crying. "Caspian, please say something! Save me, save our baby," she cried.

Caspian looked down at her, his expression complicated.

After a moment, Caspian looked up at the Empress Dowager. "Grandmother, Gwendolyn...she really is with child."

Hearing that, the Empress Dowager stayed silent.

But I sneered inwardly.

Same story as last time.

In my previous life, after Gwendolyn played ghost and caused my death, the Empress used this exact excuse to help her escape punishment.

Then Caspian seized the opportunity and welcomed her into the East Palace as his secondary consort.

But this time, I was still alive, not a chance she would have it her way.

I clutched my belly and suddenly moaned in pain.

"Ahh..."

The Empress Dowager immediately turned around. "What's wrong?"

I winced, my face pale. "Grandmother, my stomach, I'm in pain."

The Empress Dowager's face went pale with alarm. She shouted, "Summon the imperial physician! Hurry!"

The room erupted into chaos.

The Empress wanted to say something more, but the Empress Dowager silenced her with a glare.

"Empress Morgana, your niece's business can wait. If anything happens to the Crown Princess, I'll hold you personally responsible," the Empress Dowager warned.

I leaned against the headboard, my eyes lowered.

Gwendolyn was trembling all over.

Caspian stood there, his gaze flickering between Gwendolyn and me, his expression complicated.

The imperial physician arrived very quickly.

After checking me, he let out a relieved breath.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. The Crown Princess has suffered nothing more than a fright and some disturbance to her pregnancy.

"I will prescribe a few courses of tonic to settle her condition. With several days of quiet rest, she will be fine," the imperial physician said.

Only then did the Empress Dowager finally relax.

She turned to Gwendolyn, her voice calm but firm.

"Gwendolyn, since you're carrying the Crown Prince's child, I won't have you killed today. You may escape death, but you won't escape consequences," she warned.

Gwendolyn lifted her head, a flicker of hope in her eyes.

The Empress Dowager spoke coldly, “By my decree. Gwendolyn, with her twisted heart and corrupt character, is unworthy to serve as the Crown Prince’s secondary consort.

"From this day forward, she is banished from Silverkeep and sent to the Abbey of Silent Penance outside the city, there to live out her days. She shall not return to the capital without my summons.”

Hearing that, Gwendolyn's face went ghostly pale.

The Abbey of Silent Penance was a imperial institution, a place where palace women who messed up were locked away as punishment.

Once one was sent there, one's life was ruined for good.

"No—" Gwendolyn shrieked, "Your Majesty, I'm carrying the Crown Prince's child, You can't do this to me."