Chapter 4

"Mr. Lowe, you were so anxious when Ms. Houghton was poisoned. What about me? I'm burning up here, it feels awful..." Jessica said.

"Princess, did you seriously give yourself an aphrodisiac?" Dominic asked.

"I just wanted to see if you'd freak out over me the same way," Jessica replied.

"Please control yourself. I promised Rosie she'd be my only wife... Are you really feeling that bad? Stop trying to seduce me," Dominic said.

"Mm... Mr. Lowe, you're incredible," Jessica whispered softly.

"Mr. Lowe, have you been holding back all this time?" Jessica asked.

"Rosie's face is scarred and her legs are disabled. I lost all desire for her long ago. But she's my firstwife, the one who's been with me through everything, so I can't just cast her aside," Dominic said.

"Ah." Jessica cried out.

"Keep your voice down. She's still passed out right there," Dominic whispered.

While he was lost in the moment, Dominic couldn't help but glance my way, only to lock eyes with my calm, unbothered look.

He went limp with fear, instantly shoving Jessica aside and scrambling to fix his clothes.

He rushed to explain, "Rosie. It's not what you think. I was just helping the princess detox."

"Mm..." Jessica whimpered.

Jessica pulled her robe on, complaining in a cute, sulky way as she pointed at the red marks on her neck.

"Ms. Houghton, Mr. Lowe hurt me." she whined.

Dominic looked like he was dying to shut Jessica up.

But Jessica just put on her innocent act, totally shameless, and kept provoking me like she owned the place.

I looked completely unfazed, because just then, the palace doors swung open and the King walked in on the whole scene.

I stood up and said to the King, "Your Majesty, I've been sick for so long. If the princess is willing, I hope you'll allow her to marry Dominic."

Dominic blurted out, "Rosie, are you crazy? You're already my firstwife. Are you saying the princess should be my concubine?"

Even though he was saying no, he was already trying to secure a title for Jessica without even realizing it.

Jessica said, "Father, Mr. Lowe saved my life. I'm willing to give myself to him."

The King only had Jessica left as his living daughter, so of course he spoiled her, but I was still in the way.

Jessica declared, all noble and selfless, "As a way to thank him, I don't mind sharing Mr. Lowe with Ms. Houghton."

With a princess ready to share a husband with me, my spot as the firstwife was basically doomed.

But I hadn't done anything wrong, so the royal family couldn't just push me around in public.

After thinking it over, the King said, "Let the princess become Dominic's noble wife."

To keep things dignified for Jessica, the royal family just went ahead and invented a brand-new title, "noble wife."

As the name suggests, a noble wife outranked a firstwife.

We might both be called wives, but in reality, I'd basically been downgraded to a concubine.

Seeing me stay silent, Jessica said with a hurt look, "Looks like Ms. Houghton feels she's been wronged. Father, I'm willing to marry Mr. Lowe, even if it means becoming his concubine."

The King replied sharply, "You're a princess. Dominic's the one lucky enough to climb up into the royal family. But since he's such a skilled doctor, at least you'll be healthy and live long with him.

"That's already lowering yourself enough. If you go and offer to be his concubine, won't people just laugh at the royal family?"

That was clearly a warning shot aimed straight at Dominic.

Dominic fell to his knees in a panic. "Your Majesty, please calm down. I know I'm reaching way above my station marrying the princess, but I swear I'll never let her down."

Then he turned to me.

"Rosie, why are you still keeping quiet? Are you just trying to put the princess on the spot?" he snapped.

"Princess Jessica is born of royal blood, not some narrow-minded housewife like you." he sneered.

I stared coldly at Dominic as he spat out those words, and for a moment, he felt like a complete stranger to me. It made my skin crawl.

With wealth, status, and fame practically within his grasp, Dominic's expression twisted as he pressed me.

"Rosie, when did you get so petty and uptight? Can't you just be a little more open-minded?" he snapped.

I curled my lips into a faint, gracious smile and replied, "Thank Your Majesty for blessing my husband with such a fine union."

Dominic was stunned. He wanted me to act magnanimously, but now he was bothered that I could so easily let him be shared with another woman.

Jessica got exactly what she wanted, flashing me a triumphant grin before turning to the King and turning on the charm.

"Father, my wedding to Mr. Lowe has to be a huge, festive celebration. Everyone in the city should know about it," she said.

The King knew in his heart that this was wrong.

But with Tessa in a coma, he just couldn't bear the thought of losing another daughter.

So he spoiled Jessica rotten, letting her have her way in everything.

The whole palace was bursting with excitement, everyone showering Jessica and Mr. Lowe with congratulations for their wedding.

Nobody even spared me a glance.

It was obvious to everyone that my scarred face and crippled legs marked me as someone who wouldn't last long.

When one was as good as dead, anyone felt free to trample on him.

"System, I've picked the perfect day to finally leave this body behind," I said.

Watching Dominic and Jessica openly embrace, soaking up all the well-wishes, I spoke to the System with a calm resolve.

"Let me die on the day of their wedding," I said.

The Lowe family was bustling with celebration, all thanks to Jessica's grand wedding.