Chapter 2

Raegan fell seriously ill after she went back.

Alex was filled with concern and stayed by her bedside for an entire day and night.

Meanwhile, I preemptively knelt in the snow to face his wrath before he asked me to go there.

Alex stood in front of me, draped in a dark cloak. His voice was colder than the winter chill. "How perceptive of you to apologize before I even called for you."

I kept my head bowed. "Indeed, I am at fault and have come to accept my punishment."

Alex's lips curled into a smile. He was seemingly pleased by my unexpected compliance. "Do you know about your mistake?"

He misunderstood me.

I was inherently rebellious.

I came to accept punishment, not to admit fault, as I didn't believe I did anything wrong.

So I stubbornly replied, "I did nothing wrong. If given another chance, I would still push her into the snow."

Alex let out a cold laugh and said, "You have quite a temper. You need to kneel and remember who rules this palace."

Then he was still not satisfied and added, "It isn't enough. You should apologize to Raegan by kneeling before her and serving her a drink."

Did he ask me to kneel and apologize to Raegan?

Alex truly intended to humiliate me.

He was the emperor, and I was his consort. How could I not comply with his orders?

I replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Alex grew even more displeased. He gripped my chin tightly and said. "Lillian, do you really wish to degrade yourself like that?"

He wanted me to plead with him.

But I wouldn't. "I only know that if I do something wrong, I should be punished. That's what you told me, Your Majesty. Surely you haven't forgotten about it. Right?"

Alex's expression darkened, and a storm was brewing in his eyes. He kicked my shoulder and knocked me to the floor.

His foot pressed down on my shoulder and seemed to grind me into the ground. "Will you truly not bow to me?"

I grimaced in pain but remained silent.

I thought he would kill me.

But he didn't. He only said, "Without my order, no one is allowed to help her up."

I chuckled softly.

He had indeed forgotten my personality.

If I willingly knelt, who could make me stand?

The empress heard of my plight and hurried out at midnight to persuade me.

She looked paler than I did after I had braved the cold. She coughed after every few words.

I constantly worried she might collapse at any moment.

She said, "Lillian, you will ruin your health if you keep kneeling in the freezing weather. Stand up and just bow to him. Surely, he won't hold it against you."

I let out a lowly laugh and said in a hoarse voice, "I have bowed to him before, but he still killed my father and my brother. I have no reason to bow again."

The empress sighed, "Lillian, what will become of you with such a temperament?"

I declined her kindness and said, "Your Majesty, your health is fragile. Don't suffer the cold with me."

She couldn't persuade me, nor could anyone in this world.

Once I set my mind on something, I would insist, at any cost.

I knelt outside Raegan's place for an entire night. The snow covered me completely.

In the silent night, the whispers inside came into my ears.

They sounded so harsh.