Chapter 3

Judy was Eda's only daughter, and she'd been my closest maid since we were little. She'd always been by my side.

My mother looked a bit uneasy. "I've arranged a marriage for her. I'll get you another maid."

I didn't say anything else. I just sat on the stool, admiring my nails.

By the time I finished my wine, Judy was standing before me.

Her voice was hoarse. "Miss."

I stared at her in shock. Her eyes were puffy and red, her clothes were disheveled, and faint red marks peeked out on her neck. Even if I'd never experienced it myself, I could tell exactly what had gone down.

I swallowed my rage. "Who was it? Tell me. Who did this?"

Judy shook from head to toe. "It was Dean."

Dean Poole was the son of our butler and the older brother of Pearl's closest maid.

My eyes reddened. "Bring him here."

Magnus looked at me. "Enough already. If you want to leave, just go. It's just a maid. Do you really want to get revenge for her?"

"I said, bring Dean here," I repeated.

Soon enough, Dean was sent kneeling in front of me.

"Miss, I was wrong, but I figured she was going to marry me anyway, so I thought, might as well do it before the wedding, right?" he said, sounding completely shameless.

He didn't show the slightest bit of regret. He'd probably boast about it like it was some kind of achievement.

I reached out and rested my hand on Judy's shoulder. "Judy, you're going to the palace with me. If you stay this soft, how will you ever keep me safe?"

She stared at me, lost at first, but then I saw resolve flicker in her eyes.

I strode right up to Dean. In one swift motion, I plunged my hairpin into his throat.

Blood gushed out in a wild spray. Some of it splattered across my face.

Dean's eyes went wide as he slowly crumpled to the floor.

Everyone just stared, totally stunned, eyes wide as saucers at what just happened.

"You… you really killed him..." Magnus stammered.

I shot him a cold look. "Yeah, I killed him. So what?"

Then I turned to my mother. "So, Mother, are you going to arrest me? If so, you'd better not waste any time."

She pressed her lips together. "Get him out of here. Make sure no one from the palace sees this. Make sure she's spotless. Wipe away every trace of blood."

The maids hurried over, carefully wiping the blood from my face and clothes. They checked every inch of me to make sure there wasn't a single stain left before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

"You can leave now," my mother said.

I gave her a faint smile. "Of course."

While I was locked up in that room, I kept wondering if I should just go for it and assassinate the King to get my whole clan executed in the process.

But the moment I stepped through the palace gates, it all clicked. Death was way too easy for them. I wanted them to suffer so much that they wished they were dead.

I wanted them to regret sending me here every waking moment for the rest of their lives.

*****

The very day I entered the palace, the King, Leon Hersey, summoned me to his bedchamber. He was clearly pleased with me.

After we were done, he stroked my hair and said, "I remember the one chosen was supposed to be Pearl. So how did you end up here instead?"

He shot me a teasing look, clearly waiting for me to get flustered.

I reached up and traced my fingers over his chest, giving him a faint smile. "They just never liked me, and they couldn't bear to let Pearl go."

The King looked genuinely surprised for a moment, then chuckled softly. "That's treason, you know. You're awfully blunt."

I hugged him tighter, resting my head against his chest. "My King, you're my husband now. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you. No secrets between us."

I paused, my voice thick with emotion as I continued, "And I'm not wrong. They really don't like me."

He didn't say another word, just pulled me closer, holding me tighter.

After a moment, he gently lifted my chin. My teeth pressed into my lower lip, a single tear glimmering at the corner of my eye, so delicate and vulnerable, anyone would want to protect me.

He kissed me, leaning in and taking control.

Early the next morning, his attendant, Addison Fields, showed up at my chamber, holding a royal decree.

On my second day in the palace, I was officially rewarded with a lot of treasure.

Gifts started flooding into my chamber nonstop.

The King summoned me to his bedchamber for several nights in a row.

For a while, all eyes in the palace were on me.

My favor had climbed so high in only six months, it now matched the Queen herself.

I had truly become the King's most favored consort.

That night, one of the allied states sent over a rare tiger, and the King was so thrilled he threw a big party to celebrate.

The King and the Queen hadn't shown up yet. I sat there, expressionless, when Judy leaned in close and whispered in my ear, "Lady Alice, the Howell family and the Rowse family just showed up."

I lazily lifted my gaze, watching as a group of people made their way toward me.

Pearl was heavily pregnant, and everyone was accommodating her, moving slowly so she could keep up.

Judy gritted her teeth. "Lady Alice, should I ask them to leave? They just bring misfortune."

I raised my hand. "No need."

They stopped in front of me and bowed. "Greetings, Lady Alice."

I stood up and walked right up to Pearl. "Why are you hiding behind that veil? What, are you too ashamed to show your face?"

Her eyes were cold and shadowed. "I'm ugly, Your Highness. I wouldn't want to sully your eyes."

With that long scar on her face, I bet Pearl would kill me if she could.

Watching my mother shield Pearl's belly with her hand, I let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Scared I'll do something to her?" I sneered.

She kept her eyes averted. "We just don't want to cross you, Your Highness."

Pearl suddenly piped up, her tone laced with mock gratitude. "I really ought to thank you, Lady Alice, for handing your man over to me. Whatever you and he had in the past, well, it's time you let that go."