Chapter 1

I accidentally drank spiked wine and grabbed the passing Crown Prince in my lust-filled haze.

After that night of madness, I got pregnant.

When my elder sister found out, she held my hand and said, "If you used the child to force the Crown Prince to marry you, wouldn't you become a scheming woman?

"Better to abort it and marry far away."

I hesitated. The Crown Prince was cruel, erratic, and killed without mercy. Not to mention that I had forced him that night.

As I raised the abortion medicine to my lips, my belly suddenly tightened.

I heard a child's voice. "Mother, don't! Father has already asked for a royal decree to take you as his consort. The Queen even prepared ten thousand gold coins as a reward."

I overturned the medicine, saying to my sister, "Don't worry, Kaitlyn. I had plenty of strength and plenty of means."

*****

I couldn't care less about being a lower-ranked concubine. It was the ten thousand gold coins that really matter.

I'd spent over ten years in the High Minister's estate, scraping by on just three silver coins a month. At that rate, I'd need a hundred lifetimes to ever save up ten thousand gold.

When my sister, Kaitlyn Gifford heard that, her face went from pale to livid. She clenched her fist so hard her nails dug into her palm, then grabbed my sleeve.

"Holly, don't lose your head. Didn't I teach you better than this?" she snapped. "You want to cozy up to the Crown Prince? Are you trying to get us all killed?

"When have I ever lied to you?"

I hesitated. Kaitlyn was always been pretty decent to me. At least she never gave me a hard time all these years.

But then the voice in my belly piped up again. "Mother, she's jealous of you. If you end the pregnancy and get married off somewhere far away, she'll step right into your shoes.

"But the Crown Prince won't even want her, and the whole family will go down with her.

"If you don't want your family to get destroyed, you absolutely can't listen to her.

"Father is in the front hall right now. He's already figured out it was you that night, and he's waiting for your response."

I jumped in fright, grabbed my skirt, and dashed out of the room.

"Holly, get back here," Kaitlyn barked behind me.

Hearing her shout, I didn't dare slow down. It looked like that voice was right after all.

Kaitlyn really had it out for me.

Otherwise, why would the potion reek of safflower? She wasn't just trying to make me lose the baby. She wanted to ruin me for good, make sure I'd never be a mother, ever.

When I rushed into the front hall, I heard the mistress of the estate and Kaitlyn's mother, Elisha saying, "Holly's always been a bit headstrong. Despite your favor, she's already engaged.

"She'll be sent off to Riverford to get married any day now."

"That's not true," I burst out, jogging over as fast as I could. "Your Highness, I'm willing to become your concubinea."

When I saw the Crown Prince, Dominic Herrington, I bowed at once.

He looked at me coolly. "I have no interest in taking another man's wife."

"Your Highness, I've admired you from afar for a long time," I blurted out. "And besides, I'm already carrying your baby."

Elisha was so stunned she couldn't even get a word out before Dominic interrupted sharply, "In that case, Lady Holly, you'll return to the palace with me."

"Y-Your Highness, Lady Holly is delicate and frail by nature. How could she possibly serve in the your palace? She—" Elisha stammered.

"She's carrying my child. That makes her mine. Lady Elisha, you'd best mind your own business from now on," Dominic said coldly.

"Guards, take Lady Holly back to my rooms," he ordered.

As soon as Dominic gave the order, Elisha shot me a look, her jaw clenched tight, clearly gritting her teeth in frustration.

That was when it really hit me.

All that kindness she'd shown me before was just an act?

So that spiked wine I drank probably wasn't an accident after all.

I stumbled after Dominic into his wing within his palace, still reeling from everything.

He put me up in Brightvale Garden.

"You'll stay here and take care of yourself and the baby. If you screw it up, you'll answer to me," Dominic said coldly.

The baby in my belly was over the moon. "Mother, this is his first ever child!

"The Herrington family almost never has kids, and you're the only one who ever managed to get him and end up pregnant.

"Seriously, don't act all high and mighty, or he'll get tired of you in no time. Then we'll be kicked out with nowhere to go."

At that, I grabbed Dominic's hand and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I'll rest up and do my best to give you a healthy child."

Dominic's lips twitched, but he smoothly pulled his hand back.

Right then, his attendants streamed in, arms full of nourishing tonics and sparkling jewelry for me.

"If you need anything, tell the steward. But remember, don't get clever with me," Dominic warned.

I nodded like crazy. "Your Highness, don't have to worry. Someone tried to set me up before, but running into you is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me.

"I'll do whatever you say, no questions asked. I'll never break my promise."

I looked up at him, hoping he could see how genuine I was. Maybe now he'd finally believe I meant it.

Dominic just said coolly, "Alright, take care of yourself and make sure the baby's safe.

"The Queen sent you a bunch of rewards. Keep them all. I've got things to do."

I hurriedly bowed. "Farewell, Your Highness!"

Once Dominic was gone, I couldn't help but stare at all the boxes piled up in my room. When I opened them, the sheer amount of gold inside nearly knocked me flat.

The Queen sure was generous.