Chapter 2

By the time the cell door swung shut again, I could no longer form a complete sentence. I could only make a faint, hoarse voice that barely even sounded like mine.

The jailer shoved me down onto the cold prison floor, saying, "Lord Pemberton gave orders not to mistreat you."

Then he tossed a quilt onto the floor, set down a bowl of soup, and turned to leave.

However, my chains remained locked, and I could barely even lift my arms.

So, this was what Arthur meant by "not mistreating" me. He thought he could convince himself he was still the man who treated me with such great kindness, as long as he provided me an old quilt and a bowl of hot food.

Just as I leaned back against the wall, I heard people arguing outside.

"Let me see my young mistress! She isn't Mabel Sinclair! She is the eldest daughter of the Montgomery family!"

It was Bertha Hawthorne, my nanny. She had looked after me since I was a child. She was also the last remaining soul from the old Montgomery household.

Footsteps echoed outside the cell. Moments later, Arthur entered, accompanied by his men.

The guards held Bertha back as she clutched a wooden box to her chest. When she saw the iron chains on my wrists, her legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.

"My lady! They said you'd been thrown in here, branded as a prisoner condemned to death, but I didn't believe it! I refused to! I went and dug up the Montgomery family's old registration papers and family tree, along with your marriage certificate! Here they are!"

She opened the wooden box and showed me the documents lying inside.

"If we just show these to the official overseeing the execution, they'll know you're not Mabel Sinclair!"

I braced myself against the wall and stood up. However, Arthur reached out and snatched the wooden box from Bertha before I could even get close.

When Bertha tried to grab it back, the guards pinned her down. She screamed, "My lord! This is a matter of life and death! Please, you can't take it away!"

Arthur unfolded the marriage certificate that bore both our names, stamped with the official seal. If this reached the official in charge, the truth about the prisoner swap would be exposed, and Mabel would have to be returned to death row.

Arthur closed the wooden box. "I shall keep this in my custody for now."

Bertha froze, stunned into silence. "But my lord! The execution is set for dawn! What are you holding onto that for? We have to submit it now!"

She lunged forward, tugging at his sleeve, pleading with him. "Lady Montgomery took 30 lashes in your stead, sold her family home, and saved your entire Pemberton family. And now, you're going to take her life as well?"

Arthur's expression darkened.

"I never said I wouldn't save her. Once the wedding is over, I shall go to the palace myself to explain."

Bertha's eyes streamed with tears. "Will she even still be alive by the time the wedding is over, my lord?"

Suddenly, Mabel's startled cry came from outside. She had followed them, and she now stood upon the steps, clutching her chest and gasping for air.

"Arthur… I only came to apologize to Vicky… But Bertha is right. I should return to prison instead."

Arthur stepped forward immediately to steady her. He chided her and asked, "Why did you come here?"

Mabel's gaze fell upon the wooden box in his hands, and tears began to spill.

"Victoria will be saved if you hand those papers in. Just hand me over, Arthur. Just do it."

As she spoke, she started toward the prison gate, but Arthur caught her in his arms.

"Don't be foolish," he said with a frown. "The Princess Consort hates you to the bone. If you go back, it's literally a death sentence for you!"

Bertha trembled with rage.

"My lord! Are you saying that it's unacceptable for her to face death, but perfectly fine for Lady Montgomery instead?"

Startled, Mabel shrank back into Arthur's embrace.

Guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Bertha away, who was struggling against them. I threw myself against the prison gate, pounding desperately on the iron bars.

In her struggle, Bertha missed her footing on the stone steps, and she fell, striking her temple against the corner of the wall with a sickening thud. Blood instantly gushed down, covering her face, and a raw, wordless cry tore from my throat.

Arthur turned his head around to look.

I pointed toward Bertha, who lay on the ground, then toward the physician standing nearby.

"Save her!" I mouthed at him, furious that I couldn't make a sound. I could only hurl myself against the prison gate, over and over again, until he finally understood what I said.

Just then, Mabel's body went limp. "Arthur… my chest hurts."

He didn't hesitate, scooping Mabel into his arms before turning to the physician. "Examine Mabel first."

Bertha lay on the cold stone ground, clutching my fingers, gasping for air with great difficulty.

"Don't be afraid, my lady. I will go and report this to the authorities for you, even if I have to crawl there on my knees."

No sooner had she spoken than loud drums—signaling the clearing of the area—rang out from the execution grounds.

A prison guard hurried over.

"The Princess Consort has already arrived at the viewing platform. The execution grounds are now sealed off. No unauthorized persons are permitted to approach."

Bertha's grip on my hand tightened abruptly. She looked at me, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

"They've even wiped the guillotine clean… just for you."