Chapter 3

Princess Jasmine forced the bowl against my lips. The look in her eyes was so fierce it was as if she wanted to tear me to pieces.

I held back the sting in my eyes and turned my head away from the scalding hot porridge.

But she wouldn't take no for an answer. With one hand, she gripped my jaw and poured the porridge straight into my mouth.

The moment it went down, my insides began to cramp with unbearable pain.

I instinctively clutched my stomach, but Princess Jasmine thought I was putting on an act.

Without room for argument, she grabbed the small of my back and forced me to finish the entire bowl.

I endured the twisting pain in my abdomen and swallowed, mouthful by painful mouthful.

Only then did Princess Jasmine pull her hand back with satisfaction. She picked up another bowl, blew it cool, and brought it to Stephen's lips. "Here, Stephen, you eat some too. Let me feed you."

Stephen's face flushed as he took the spoon from Princess Jasmine's hand into his mouth. His eyes glanced at me, full of provocation.

Just then, a servant's voice came from the doorway.

"Princess, the Magnolia tree that Master Stephen ordered has arrived."

Hearing this, Stephen immediately perked up excitedly. "Jasmine, I want to plant this tree in this courtyard, alright? This courtyard is the biggest in the entire manor. It's the perfect match for my Magnolia tree."

Meeting his hopeful gaze, Princess Jasmine nodded indulgently. "Whatever makes you happy, Stephen. I'll go along with it."

Stephen's face turned red with shyness. He turned to the servants and gave his order. "Men, push that plum tree over and replace it with my Magnolia tree."

But I was horrified. Ignoring the cramping pain in my stomach, I threw myself in front of the plum tree. "No one touches my plum tree!"

Hidden beneath this tree was my dead body. If someone discovered it early, I would disappear into thin air in an instant.

I hadn't finished arranging my own funeral yet. Now was not the time to be exposed.

But Princess Jasmine misunderstood my intentions. She frowned and scolded me. "Alec, it's just a plum tree. What's the harm in giving it up for Stephen?"

Her careless tone stabbed me right in the heart.

Had she forgotten? This plum tree was one that she and I had planted together.

She had even said that when the tree grew sturdier, she would build a swing beneath it so we could play together.

All those vows of eternal love. She had long since thrown them away. Only I still remembered.

When I refused to give in, Stephen pretended to be kind and stepped forward to mediate. "Alec, the doctor said my mood needs to stay positive for me to get better. I just love Magnolia trees. Can't you let me have this?"

He grabbed my arm and shook it, putting on a coquettish act.

My body immediately went stiff. When had he ever been this familiar with me? It was very unusual.

But before I could react, Stephen suddenly grabbed my arm, leaned back, and fell to the ground.

Clutching his heart, he sobbed, "Alec, even if you won't let me have the tree, you didn't have to push me."

Seeing this, Princess Jasmine shoved me aside and anxiously gathered Stephen into her arms.

"Stephen, are you hurt?"

After confirming that Stephen was completely unharmed, she finally turned and glared at me viciously. "Alec, when did you become so cruel?

"What did Stephen ever do to you? You dared to lay hands on him in front of everyone. God knows how much you've made him suffer when I wasn't around!

"If you love this plum tree so much, then let it keep you company for the New Year! Come on, Stephen. Let's go. I'll give you my study to plant in."

With that, she pulled Stephen to his feet and left without looking back.

Soon, the sound of digging came from the courtyard just on the other side of the wall.

I clutched my cramping stomach and sat leaning against the plum tree. For a long time, I couldn't pull myself together.

An hour later, the noise from next door gradually quieted down. But the sound of the two of them talking became clearer.

"Jasmine, thank you. You're always the best to me."

"Silly. If I'm not good to you, who should I be good to…"

Princess Jasmine's voice was tender. Between every word flowed an unbreakable, honey-thick affection.

Stephen's voice grew hoarse as he continued. "Jasmine, then be good to me one more time. Give me a title, won't you?"

The loud sound of a kiss was especially clear in the night.

The kissing slowly grew passionate, grew hotter, turned into breathless moans that drifted into my ears on the evening breeze.

All night long, I curled up beneath the tree, listening to the sounds from next door, and numbly closed my eyes.

Soon. Only five more days.