Chapter 2

Late at night, Mose still hadn't returned.

Obviously, he was still by the side of Anna, who had fallen into the water and caught a chill.

Gabriela climbed over the wall and slipped into my room. She sat beside me, handing me a small box.

"I've already taken the medicine," she whispered. "It should take effect in the next few days. When I enter a state of feigned death, all you have to do is hold my body and jump into the Reincarnation Well. Then we can both return. As for the demonic energy in the well, don't worry. I acquired this secret medicine that can block its invasion for an hour."

She paused, letting out a chuckle. "Does this feel like a lovers' pact to die together?"

I rolled my eyes at her and said nothing.

Footsteps echoed outside the door. Gabriela stuck out her tongue at me before running out and climbing over the wall to return to her own palace.

The next moment, Mose pushed open the door and walked in.

He looked at me and asked with a frown, "Who were you talking to just now?"

I shook my head, maintaining my usual docile demeanor in front of him.

"No one. Just talking to myself," I replied.

He shot me an indifferent glance instead of pursuing it.

"Go to sleep," he said.

I blinked in surprise that he hadn't questioned me about hurting Anna, as he always did.

Nevertheless, I obediently lay down on the innermost side of the bed.

Mose removed his clothes and lay down beside me.

He had his back to me, and his voice was devoid of any emotion as he said, "Anna just got back. She's feeling insecure, and I have to be considerate of our past."

I felt the warmth of his body, but my blood ran cold.

Mose had always been clever. He must have understood everything.

He knew what happened that day and the days before were all set by her to frame Gabriela and me.

Yet he still chose to side with Anna, not for any other reason but simply because she was feeling insecure.

I turned my back to him as well and hummed in response.

Since Anna's return, everything around me had been constantly reminding me that the only reason I'd gotten this far was because my face resembled Anna's.

What could a mere stand-in do to change anything for the real person?

I closed my eyes, saying no more.

The sound of steady breathing came from behind me, but I couldn't fall asleep.

...

Two days later, Gabriela climbed over the wall into my courtyard again and tossed me a ring.

She said, "This ring is a magical artifact. It can store a lot of things. You should start packing."

I took it and immediately used it to store all the jewelry and coins that Mose had given me.

Gabriela clicked her tongue. "Who would've thought Mose could be so generous?"

The next day, I was alone in the small garden outside the hall, tending to the flowers I had planted.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside.

I stood up, walked to the door, and grabbed a passing maid to ask what was going on.

The maid looked extremely nervous, but out of respect for my status, she answered properly, "His Highness took the Consort and Lady Anna to attend a banquet. On their way back, they were attacked by demons. Lady Anna was injured, and His Highness is summoning the royal physicians to treat her."

A growing sense of unease gripped me, and even my voice trembled as I asked, "What about the Consort? Where is Gabriela?"

The maid hesitated before replying timidly, "I didn’t see Princess Gabriela when His Highness returned."

I released the maid and dashed towards the Nebula Palace as if my life depended on it.

When I passed by the entrance to the Celestial Realm, I saw Rudolf's trusted aide holding a familiar figure.

I rushed over and saw Gabriela, covered in wounds, and my eyes instantly reddened.

"Gabriela, are you all right?" I asked anxiously.

Gabriela gave me a weak smile. "Yeah, it will be over soon."

I immediately understood what she meant.

The medicine was beginning to take effect.