Chapter 2
I went out and bought as many candies as I could carry.
Then I crammed them all into my mouth at once.
But strangely, the candies that used to be so sweet tasted nothing but bitter now.
I spat them all out.
Then I stomped each one to pieces under my foot.
There was this emptiness gnawing at me, leaving my chest hollow and aching.
I needed to do something. Anything.
Next thing I knew, I was standing before those massive palace gates.
Everyone was still talking about how over-the-top Princess Amelia's sixteenth birthday bash was yesterday.
Not only was there a huge fireworks show, but 72 pastors had come to the palace to bless her.
No wonder she was King Edward's one and only kid.
Word was, King Edward couldn't have any more kids.
They said she was set to become the Crown Princess soon.
I looked up at those golden palace gates and couldn't help but grin.
I finally figured out what was making me feel so empty inside.
Turned out, all I really wanted was to kill.
She was the King's only heir, the future Crown Princess, huh?
Well then, Princess Amelia, with my special gift as a beast tamer, born to be fertile, let me end your carefree life.
I became the new beast tamer at Princess Amelia's palace.
No matter how wild or unruly, every beast ended up purring like a kitten in my hands.
And right on my face, I had an egg-sized birthmark.
Ugly and plain as I was, Princess Amelia felt totally at ease with me around.
She was insanely jealous, but compared to her beautiful right-hand maids, she actually trusted me more and liked having me close.
When she was with her beloved, Lord Charles Linwood, I was always right there by her side.
Even when the King came to visit, she never bothered to hide me away.
So, at a festival party, I got into her father's bedchamber without anyone batting an eye.
It was Princess Amelia who sent me to bring hangover soup to her drunk father.
She felt safer with me than anyone else around.
But as a servant, raised in a cage and groomed for others' pleasure, I knew exactly how to play the part.
If I wanted, I could become every man's fantasy.
The moment I handed King Edward the soup, he snapped awake.
When he saw me, he hesitated for a split second.
But in no time, his gaze grew dreamy, clouded with desire.
When he pressed me into the mattress, he smirked.
He said, "Who would've guessed someone so plain could have such a tempting figure?"
"Your waist is so slender... Sweetheart, you're making me crazy. If there really were a fox spirit in this world, it'd have to be you."
At the height of our passion, I hooked my arms around his neck and teased, "Your Majesty, I've got a secret for you.
"My ugly face disappears after sexual intercourse with a man."
His gaze grew even hungrier, eyes dark with desire.
He grinned, "Then I guess I'll have to work you even harder, just to see your real beauty."
The room was awash in heat and wild desire.
By the time Princess Amelia stormed in, King Edward and I had already been over the moon.
Amelia was absolutely furious. In a blind rage, she lunged at me with her sword.
She shouted, "How dare you, you shameless wretch! Trying to seduce my father right here in my palace, huh?"
"I'll make sure you pay for this with your life."
I screamed and shoved the still-drowsy King Edward away from me.
The sword plunged straight into King Edward's body.
He snapped awake in an instant.
He stared at his most beloved daughter and roared, "Amelia, are you trying to kill your father?"
Amelia dropped to her knees, trembling with fear.
She cried out, "I wouldn't dare, Father! Please forgive me!"
She shrieked, "It's all that hideous servant's fault! I want her dead!"
"Just have her executed, Father! Do it now!"
Edward followed Amelia's gaze and stared at me in shock. The woman standing there was no longer the ugly, forgettable servant.
The ugly birthmark I'd just mentioned to him was gone.
My face was now flawless, like a goddess descended to earth.
After losing hope for an heir, King Edward had lost all interest in women and hadn't brought a new beauty into the palace for ages.
And now, I stood before him as a stunning beauty—unparalleled, the kind he hadn't laid eyes on in ages.
His eyes lit up instantly.
He grabbed my hand and turned to Princess Amelia. "Genevieve didn't seduce me. I was the one who lost control."
He added, "She's virtuous and reserved. Don't you dare speak ill of her."
Timing it perfectly, I let two tears slip down my cheeks and pressed my delicate body closer to him.
I said, "Your Majesty, with your favor, I could die without regrets."
King Edward looked at me with a mix of pity and admiration, eyes lingering on my beautiful face.
He replied, "Enough with the talk of death. From this moment on, you'll be Lady Gen. Everyone will know you belong to me."
"And as for you..."
Edward shot a cold glare at Princess Amelia.
"You've been acting out of control, meddling in my affairs, and even daring to attack me."
"Three months of house arrest in your own palace. Use that time to think about what you've done."
Amelia went on a rampage, smashing every piece of porcelain in sight.
As I left, my ears picked up the voices of the Queen and Charles, both trying to comfort Amelia.
The Queen said, "Don't cry, Amelia. Genevieve is just a lady. She can't bear children anyway."
"You're still your father's only heir. Once you become Crown Princess, that bitch won't stand a chance against us."
I turned and fixed my gaze on Charles, staring at him for a long, long time.
This was the man who once called Rose's performance brilliant.
But when Rose was thrown into the beast cage, her body mangled and bloody from the savage attack, he just smirked and said that was a real masterpiece.
But Rose promised me that once she finished performing for the Princess' birthday and got the money from the nobles, she'd bring loads of candies for me.
But now, I'd never get to taste those sweet candies again—the ones so good they made me forget about all the bad things I wanted to do.
It was all because of him.
I clenched my palm so hard that it nearly drew blood.
Then I told myself it was okay.
I'd take them out one by one.
Not a single one of them could get away.