Chapter 2 Another Death

Chapter 5: A Desperate Gamble

When I opened my eyes again, Nicole had pushed me out once more. This time, I grabbed her and we both tumbled to the ground in a heap.

Before she could speak, I pushed her away and quickly said, "Your Imperial Majesty, Nicole claims she has deep feelings for Prince Trevor and is willing to follow him in life and death. She wishes to be buried with him!"

Sister, you've caused my miserable death twice. Don't blame me for striking first.

"Oh?" The Empress looked at Nicole with great interest. "Very well, I shall grant your wish. Guards, take her away."

"The sooner you leave, the sooner you can catch up with the Prince on the road to the afterlife. Think of it as honoring your deep love."

"Your Imperial Majesty, spare me! Spare me! I never said that! It was Makenzie who framed me! She must be jealous that Prince Trevor favored me more, so she wants me dead!" Nicole's struggles and cries were in vain.

The Empress's side guard, a merciless man, drew his sword and, with a swift motion, ended her life swiftly.

Nicole's blood splattered across my face.

I lowered my head even further, hoping the Empress wouldn't notice me.

"Makenzie?"

What you fear most always comes true.

The Empress had called my name.

Nicole, I curse your ancestors for eighteen generations!

"Your servant is here." I pressed my forehead against the blood-stained blue bricks, prostrating.

"You both served in Prince Trevor's study. She was willing to be buried with him. Are you willing?"

A death sentence.

If I said yes, the Empress would smile and say, "Good, I shall grant your wish."

If I said no, the Empress would surely rage and say, "How dare you, wretched maid! Being buried with the Prince is an honor. Go and serve him well."

Either way, it meant death.

"Your Imperial Majesty, Prince Trevor is my master, my world. With his passing, my world has collapsed. I only wish to follow him to the afterlife. However..." I bit my lip and stood up, touching my lower abdomen. "I was intimately favored by the Prince in his study and did not take the contraceptive medicine. There might be a trace of his bloodline in my womb."

"I implore Your Imperial Majesty to grant me a month. If after a month there is no sign of life, I will request a cup of poison to join the Prince."

This was my only stalling tactic.

Though I lied, it wasn't entirely implausible.

Prince Trevor was known for his love of women, often flirting with any maid with a bit of beauty.

Moreover, the Prince was not yet married and had no official consort, though he had other concubines. None of these concubines were allowed to bear his firstborn. After spending the night with him, they were all given contraceptive medicine.

By claiming to carry an unborn child, I might buy myself a chance at survival.

If the Empress believed me, I would have a month to plan my escape.

"Very well, I shall grant you thirty days."

However, I didn't get thirty days.

I was strictly monitored, with a physician checking my pulse daily. Half a month later, my menstrual cycle arrived...

I couldn't hide it anymore. I was indeed given a cup of poison and died once again.