Chapter 2

I was so heartbroken that day, I didn't even notice the snow on my shoes. When I walked inside, the snow melted and made the floor slippery, and I ended up slipping.

I fell at the palace hall entrance, which caused complications in my pregnancy. I had no choice but to be put on bed rest.

That fall made Joshua take back his decree for the first time.

Lillian, furious that she hadn't been given a title, started cursing up a storm in the palace.

"Queen? Please." Lillian spat. "People always said she was so virtuous. I even thought about meeting her in person.

"But she'd go so far as to use her own child just to block me from getting my title. That kind of scheming just makes me sick."

She really went too far, stabbing me right in the heart.

Dragging my sick body, I had her brought before me and ordered her face slapped twenty times.

Her face swelled like a pig's head, she ran out bawling.

When Joshua found out, he blew up. To back her up, he issued a decree on the spot, making her the Lady of Grace, so I'd never have the power to mess with her again.

That was how the feud between Lillian and me began.

But I swear, I wasn't trying to stir up trouble. It was because Lillian kept running her mouth. If I didn't put her in her place, how was I supposed to keep everyone in line?

I explained it to Joshua.

He just smiled, but there was something cold in that smile. "If you want to show you're in charge, just tell everyone you punished her. Why do it for real?"

My heart gave a sudden jolt.

Suddenly, it hit me.

He wasn't just the king. He was also Lillian's backer.

He could embarrass me just to help someone else.

After that, Lillian grew even more arrogant. She was the king's favorite, and every one had to respect her.

There was nothing I could do.

I kept overthinking everything, and couldn't sleep a wink for nights on end. I was worried Joshua would dispose of me and I'd meet my miserable end.

Joshua wasn't just some figurehead. If he wanted someone dead, they'd be gone in a heartbeat.

Whenever I made things tough for Lillian in the past, he'd make sure I knew my place.

If I ever got in her way again, who knew what he'd do to me. I dared even think about it.

I was left with a heavy heart, and my health kept going downhill day after day.

When I was seven months pregnant, Lillian came at me again.

She strolled in with a dog in her arms and said, "Your Majesty, a trick only works once."

I frowned and waved for someone to take her away, not wanting to deal with her.

But it was already too late.

Her dog went nuts, yapping and charging right at me.

A servant jumped in front to block it, but I was so freaked out I fell down on the floor.

By the time Joshua rushed in, Daphne had already ordered Lillian to be detained.

Lillian was bawling her eyes out, her wrist bruised from being gripped too hard.

She sobbed, "I have no idea what happened. The Queen saw me and fell down, then ordered my dog to be killed."

Joshua stormed over, furious, helping her up and glaring at me. He was sure I was using my pregnancy to frame her again.

But all he saw were servants in a panic, rushing out with tubs of bloody water.

I went into premature labor.

The baby didn't even make it past half a day. I never even got to give him a name.

I was unconscious for three days.

Joshua kept vigil by my bedside for two of those days.

As I hovered between life and death, I heard him whisper in my ear, "I was mistaken about Lillian. If you wake up, she's yours to deal with as you see fit."

Eventually, I survived.

When I finally came to, I kicked everyone out, grabbed a knife, and stormed off to find Lillian.

It was May already, so the weather was warm.

But I was shivering so badly, I could barely keep my grip on the knife.

The guards didn't dare stop me.

Lillian collapsed to the floor, her hair in disarray, terror etched across her face.

I wanted to stab her a few times so she could pay for my child's life.

But in the end, I didn't do it.

An arrow whistled in from the distance and went straight through my hand.

Joshua stood a distance away, bow in hand.

As soon as Lillian saw him, she perked right up and gave my knee a sharp kick.

She flung herself at Joshua, looking all fragile and wronged, like she'd just crawled back from the gates of hell.

Joshua brushed her aside and picked me up.

"Gilda, I know you're hurting, but she doesn't deserve to die," Joshua said.

I was drained of strength, falling into his arms, feeling lost.

Tears poured down my face, flooding out like a river after the dam broke.

Lillian was grounded. Unless Joshua said so, she couldn't set foot outside.

Joshua was protecting her, no doubt about it.

I tried to slip her some poison, but there was no chance it'd ever reach her.

I knew I was dying, so I started making arrangements for my death.

Everything that needed saying had already been said.

I only had one thing left to say to Joshua: to appoint Daphne as the new Queen.

He listened, nodded, and gently brushed a strand of hair from my face. For a moment, there was a flash of confusion and pain in his eyes.

He stared at me in silence for a long time before finally speaking. "And what about me? Is there nothing you want to say to me?"

His voice was actually a little hoarse.