Chapter 1 · The Sacrificial Daughter

Chapter 1

The night before I was supposed to enter the palace, my mother was sobbing uncontrollably in front of me. "Alice, the King is twenty years older than Pearl. How am I supposed to let her go and suffer in that place? Once she's inside, she'll be stuck there for the rest of her life."

For the first time, my brother, Magnus Howell, spoke to me calmly, "Pearl is too innocent, not like you. You should take her place in the palace."

My father gave me a cold, wordless stare.

I looked at them, the only family I had, expressionless.

"What about me? I'm even younger than Pearl," I said. "Aren't you afraid I'll be trapped there for the rest of my life?"

That night, lying in bed, I thought to myself. Maybe I should just assassinate the King once I get into the palace. That way, my dear family can enjoy the grand fate of being executed as traitors right along with me.

*****

A month ago, a decree came down from the palace, summoning a daughter of the Howell family to enter the palace as a royal consort.

The Howell family had helped the King seize the throne, so this was the King's way of rewarding them for their loyalty.

The Howell family had two daughters: Pearl Howell, the adopted older one, and me, Alice Howell.

Pearl was a year older than me and still unmarried, while my engagement to my childhood sweetheart, Francis Rowse, was an open secret.

So, it should have been her who was chosen to enter the palace.

Right now, I was sitting at my dressing table, letting the maids fuss over my hair and makeup.

I raised my hand to touch my own gorgeous eyes and brows in the mirror, a faint smirk tugging at my lips.

My dear family, are you ready for my revenge?

Mom came in, bringing Pearl with her.

She looked around and said, "Are you all set? The people from the palace are here. Don't make them wait."

I caught Pearl's reflection in the mirror. She curled her lips, and her eyes flashed with triumph.

Of course, she'd be smiling now.

A week ago, the Rowse family came over with their proposal. I was practically skipping with excitement as I rushed to the hall, only to see Francis holding Pearl's hand, both of them grinning like they'd just won the lottery.

The Rowse and Howell families were deep in wedding talks, but the bride they were planning for Francis wasn't me—it was Pearl Just like that, I was swapped out of my own future.

Francis gave me that look he always did, eyes full of longing. "Alice, I'm sorry. Pearl wouldn't last a day in the palace. That place is all palace politics and cutthroat schemes. She'd be eaten alive."

My eyes burned with unshed tears as I stared at him. "And what about me? You know I hate being caged. Do you really think I could survive locked up behind the palace?"

Francis had spent time out in the borderlands, and he'd always tell me stories about how life was out there—how everyone was so genuine, and girls could ride horses just like the guys.

Every time he brought it up, I'd always whine and tease him, begging him to take me there someday.

He'd just laugh and say, "Of course, once we're married, I'll take you there myself."

Ever since then, I started counting down the days until our wedding.

But now, he just looked down, saying nothing.

Mrs. Rowse, who always treated me like her own daughter, stood right in front of me and said, "It doesn't matter which Howell girl Francis marries. They're all the same to me."

I just stood there, my feet numb, their voices fading into nothing.

After the Rowse family left, my family finally dropped the bomb; they told me I was the one being sent off to the palace to become the King's new concubine.

I cried my eyes out, begging them not to send me to the palace. Fear clawed at my chest.

Eda Shaw, my personal maid, was desperately pleading for them not to give up on me.

"Please, sir, don't send Alice to the palace. She's just a kid; how could you let her go to a place that chews people up and spits out their bones?" Eda cried.

She kept pleading, turning to my mother. "Madam, I'm begging you. Alice is your own daughter; how can you be so heartless?"

The whole room echoed with the pleading of Eda.

My family didn't even flinch; not a single flicker of emotion crossed their faces.

I clutched my mother's sleeve with desperate strength. "Mother, please, I don't want to go to the palace. I can give up marrying Francis, I beg you. I really don't want to go."

She didn't even bother to look down at me. She just gave me a cold, dismissive glance and shook my hand off.

"How can you be so selfish? Pearl is your birth cousin; she's never had a mother. If you send her to the palace now, isn't that even more cruel to her?" my mother said coldly.

Chapter 1

For the first time, my brother, Magnus Howell, spoke to me calmly, "Pearl is too innocent, not like you. You should take her place in the palace."

My father gave me a cold, wordless stare.

I looked at them, the only family I had, expressionless.

"What about me? I'm even younger than Pearl," I said. "Aren't you afraid I'll be trapped there for the rest of my life?"

*****

A month ago, a decree came down from the palace, summoning a daughter of the Howell family to enter the palace as a royal consort.

The Howell family had helped the King seize the throne, so this was the King's way of rewarding them for their loyalty.

The Howell family had two daughters: Pearl Howell, the adopted older one, and me, Alice Howell.

Pearl was a year older than me and still unmarried, while my engagement to my childhood sweetheart, Francis Rowse, was an open secret.

So, it should have been her who was chosen to enter the palace.

Right now, I was sitting at my dressing table, letting the maids fuss over my hair and makeup.

I raised my hand to touch my own gorgeous eyes and brows in the mirror, a faint smirk tugging at my lips.

My dear family, are you ready for my revenge?

Mom came in, bringing Pearl with her.

She looked around and said, "Are you all set? The people from the palace are here. Don't make them wait."

I caught Pearl's reflection in the mirror. She curled her lips, and her eyes flashed with triumph.

Of course, she'd be smiling now.

The Rowse and Howell families were deep in wedding talks, but the bride they were planning for Francis wasn't me—it was Pearl Just like that, I was swapped out of my own future.

My eyes burned with unshed tears as I stared at him. "And what about me? You know I hate being caged. Do you really think I could survive locked up behind the palace?"

Francis had spent time out in the borderlands, and he'd always tell me stories about how life was out there—how everyone was so genuine, and girls could ride horses just like the guys.

Every time he brought it up, I'd always whine and tease him, begging him to take me there someday.

He'd just laugh and say, "Of course, once we're married, I'll take you there myself."

Ever since then, I started counting down the days until our wedding.

But now, he just looked down, saying nothing.

Mrs. Rowse, who always treated me like her own daughter, stood right in front of me and said, "It doesn't matter which Howell girl Francis marries. They're all the same to me."

I just stood there, my feet numb, their voices fading into nothing.

After the Rowse family left, my family finally dropped the bomb; they told me I was the one being sent off to the palace to become the King's new concubine.

I cried my eyes out, begging them not to send me to the palace. Fear clawed at my chest.

Eda Shaw, my personal maid, was desperately pleading for them not to give up on me.

"Please, sir, don't send Alice to the palace. She's just a kid; how could you let her go to a place that chews people up and spits out their bones?" Eda cried.

She kept pleading, turning to my mother. "Madam, I'm begging you. Alice is your own daughter; how can you be so heartless?"

The whole room echoed with the pleading of Eda.

My family didn't even flinch; not a single flicker of emotion crossed their faces.

I clutched my mother's sleeve with desperate strength. "Mother, please, I don't want to go to the palace. I can give up marrying Francis, I beg you. I really don't want to go."

She didn't even bother to look down at me. She just gave me a cold, dismissive glance and shook my hand off.

"How can you be so selfish? Pearl is your birth cousin; she's never had a mother. If you send her to the palace now, isn't that even more cruel to her?" my mother said coldly.