Chapter 9
“Actually, even if you hadn’t rebelled, you wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway.” I said.]
From the very first time I poured his wine, I’d been spiking it with Lydia’s “special seasoning.”
Just like that last cup. Lydia said this stuff would make him feel every single wound burning like fire.[]
Dad’s face went ghostly white as he whispered: “Lydia, I was good to you. Why did you betray me?“]
“Take a closer look – who am I really?” Lydia’s face seemed to shift in the shadows, and Dad let out a spine–chilling shriek:[]
“Miller’s daughter – it’s you!“]]
“And here’s the kicker – the baby isn’t even yours.” Lydia laughed behind her hand: “Didn’t you know? Her Majesty’s been slipping you poison for years to make sure you’d never have kids.“]]
Before Dad could get another word out, I slid the blade from my sleeve straight into his heart.
Lydia pressed my hand down and pushed the dagger in deeper.]
“I missed the vital spots on purpose – so you’d remember this pain.“[]
Lydia dropped those words and led me out of the water dungeon, leaving Dad to feel the agony of dying until he bled out completely.
To avoid public criticism, the Empress didn’t punish Lydia and me, but her look before we left made my blood run cold.]
Sure enough, less than a month later, the Empress disguised herself and quietly entered the manor with a squad of guards.[]
She pulled Lydia into a room to talk. When they came out, Lydia was already on the ground.[]
Aunt looked refreshed as she ordered the servants: “Burn it all. Tell everyone the Earl’s widow died of shock and sudden illness.”
“As for you-” She looked me up and down: “A poor orphan girl. You’ll come back with me.”
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Once in the palace, Uncle Emperor was delighted. He’d always been kind to the public and even let me study with the royal tutors.[]
By the time I turned fifteen, my little brother could recite simple poems, and Uncle Emperor was giving me looks that made my skin crawl.]
One night, he stumbled into my bedroom wasted.[]
He slurred at me: “Luna, you’re the spitting image of your mother.“]
“If I’d married her back then, I would’ve cherished her forever, not like that worthless father of yours.”
Aunt Empress knocked him out cold with one swift chop from behind
She looked at me and let out a heavy sigh:[]
“I thought this one was different, but they’re all cut from the same cloth.“]
After that night, Uncle Emperor started playing sick and hiding away.]
Whatever poison Aunt Empress was feeding him, he’d wake up screaming from nightmares, babbling about how sorry he was to my dad and how he’d stolen all the credit years ago.
Eventually he could barely drag himself out of bed and handed the crown over to my little brother.[]
Chapter 9
Aunt ruled from behind the scenes, masterfully winning over court officials and wiping out her enemies.[]
Within months, the former emperor was dead, and the little emperor got deathly sick and followed right behind him.]
Aunt looked like she’d finally put her demons to rest – her hair went completely white overnight.]
When I rushed to her bedside, she was barely hanging on but still managed to smile at me:
“That child was nothing but a puddle of blood from a mass grave. Amazing he made it this far.“]
I was sobbing as I clutched her hand: “Mother…”[]
The second she’d walked out of that room, I knew she’d jumped into Aunt’s body again.[]
“My sweet girl, I’ve cleared the path for you. From here on out, you’re on your own…“]
She stroked my face so gently, her voice breaking:[]
“All I want is for you to take my ashes… back to my family home.”
“My real name was… Catherine Miller.“||
Learned and dignified, with dreams that reached for the stars.
I kowtowed to Mother several times, and she closed her eyes peacefully.
The Empress Dowager passed away, naming me Crown Princess before her death. I finally understood why Mother had made me study so hard.]
I dug up Mother’s coffin and buried it along with the ashes of poor Lydia on a hillside near her family home.
From that day forward, I would carry the hopes of both my mothers – to restore peace to the land and give the people a life free from suffering.]]
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