Chapter 1

The day I gave birth to my eldest daughter, the Eldorath Palace was adorned with glowing decorations and banners.

It was not to celebrate my childbirth, but for the newly crowned Crown Princess, Sabrina Houghton.

I lay on the blood-soaked birthing bed, listening to His Highness and her receiving the court officials' congratulations, my heart torn to pieces.

Later, he brought our daughter to me. Seeing me turn my head away, he choked out, "Not even a glance at your daughter? Then I'll send her away."

I closed my eyes. Fine. Send her far away. May we never meet again in this life.

*****

The noise outside was like a searing brand, repeatedly burning my heart.

The air was filled with the sound of music and clinking glasses, blending with the sycophantic laughter and flattery of officials congratulating the newlywed prince, Wilfred Duncan, and princess, Sabrina Houghton.

Every word was a sharp blade, slicing me open and leaving me raw and bleeding.

The bedding on the birthing bed was already soaked with blood and cold sweat, clinging unpleasantly to my body, filling the air with the scent of iron and decay.

I had just fought for my life to bring his firstborn daughter into the world, only to find the whole Eldorath Palace reveling in celebration for another woman.

The door swung open, and a cold gust swept in, thick with the scent of wine and powdery cosmetics.

With great effort, I managed to lift my eyelids. Through the blur, I caught sight of a figure clad in imperial yellow. It was Wilfred.

By his side was a woman in a bright red ceremonial gown, adorned with a crown, surrounded by pearls. That should have been my place.

Sabrina, the prime minister's daughter, was now the Crown Princess.

"Juliette, are you feeling any better?" Wilfred's voice drifted over.

His concern felt half-hearted, barely reaching me from where he stood.

He didn't even bother to come closer, just kept his distance, like the blood and sweat clinging to me might somehow dirty his precious Crown Princess.

Sabrina clung to his arm, looking all soft and fragile, but when her eyes met mine, there was a sharpness there—a smug, victorious glint, like she was sizing me up and enjoying every second of it.

"Juliette just gave birth, so she must be worn out. Your Highness, don't bother her now," Sabrina cooed.

She spoke like she'd already won, flaunting her victory with every syllable.

I had no strength left to speak and didn't even look at them. I just turned my face away, shutting them out.

My silent resistance seemed to sting Wilfred.

He walked over to my bedside, cradling our swaddled newborn in his arms.

This was the daughter I'd nearly died to bring into the world, and now, she had become a weapon he used to wound me.

"Look at her. She looks so much like you—her eyes, her brows," Wilfred said.

There was an unfamiliar sorrow in his tone, something I'd never heard from him before.

Still, I stayed unmoved.

Once the heart was numb, pain no longer mattered.

When he saw that I remained completely unresponsive, Wilfred's patience finally wore thin.

"Juliette, what do you want?" His voice turned cold. "You won't even look at your own daughter? Then I'll just send her away."

There was a tremor in his voice, as if he'd been wronged by the person he cared for most.

What a joke.

I finally opened my eyes, but my gaze was lifeless—just a barren wasteland.

Alright, send her away, the farther, the better.

I never wanted to see her again in this lifetime.

My silent acquiescence stripped away the last bit of his act. The hint of sorrow in his eyes instantly shifted to anger and disappointment.

'Did he really think I'd still grovel at his feet, desperate for his approval like before?' Juliette thought, her heart cold as stone.

"Attendants!" Wilfred snapped.

At his command, a matron stepped in from outside, quick and efficient.

"Take the Little Princess to the villa in the west suburbs. See to it she's 'well looked after,'" he said.

He stressed the words "looked after," and the threat in his voice was obvious. This wasn't about kindness at all.

The baby, as if sensing something was wrong, suddenly let out a sharp, piercing cry. That sound was like a tiny needle, stabbing right into my heart.

After the baby was carried away, the hall was finally quiet.

Sabrina stepped forward, leaned in close, and spoke in a voice meant only for the two of us.

"Juliette, don't blame His Highness for being ruthless. If you want to blame someone, blame your father. He never knew how to play the game," she whispered.

She pulled out a gold seal from her sleeve and dangled it right in front of my eyes.

She sneered, "See? This is the real Crown Princess's seal. You were just a secondary consort, nothing more.

"I heard General Houghton got defeated at the border. He can barely protect himself now. You'd better look out for yourself, Juliette."

Her eyes glittered with cruel satisfaction and poisonous intent, like a viper flicking its tongue.

I looked at her, and for the first time, I felt neither anger nor jealousy.

All that was left in my heart was a cold, endless hatred.