Chapter 3

The soldiers discussed the matter among themselves day and night.

Finally, in the middle of the night, one of the guards leading the escort worked up the nerve to sneak into my carriage. He pinned me down with a lecherous grin.

Annie pounded at him with all her strength, but he refused to let me go. "You're all alone. You won't come to a good end once you reach Ravelle anyway. Why don't you come with me? I'll protect you along the way."

I slipped a needle from my sleeve and casually ran one hand over his body.

Mistaking the gesture for encouragement, he grew even more excited and impatiently tore off my outer robe.

Just as his hand reached for the clothes underneath, I drove the silver needle into the nape of his neck.

His entire body went limp on top of me. His eyes remained wide open, but he couldn't move a single muscle. That one needle was enough to leave him paralyzed for the rest of his life.

I threw him out of the carriage and faced the soldiers gathering around me. "I know what you're thinking. However, the Emperor has always been unpredictable.

"If he doesn't take a liking to me, then so be it. But if he does and decides he wants to make me one of his consorts, only to discover that I'm no longer a virgin, I'm afraid every last one of you will die.

"The next person who sneaks into my carriage will end up just like him."

I had already thought everything through during the journey. If I could please the Ravelle Emperor, perhaps I'd have a chance of being married off to a prince or an influential official. If I couldn't, the worst that could happen was that I'd be given to a servant or sold into a brothel.

As long as I stayed alive, I'd have a chance to find a way to rise again.

…

Three months later, I arrived at the Ravelle royal palace.

The Emperor didn't even spare me a glance. "Bowen, you've served me faithfully all these years. You must be tired. I'll give this woman to you."

Bowen Prembroke was the grand chamberlain who had married Miya in my previous life.

After marrying her, he'd sent a letter to the Ellsworth family.

When my mother found out, she'd been heartbroken for Miya but hadn't dared say anything. All she could do was send him plenty of gold and silver and beg him to treat Miya well.

This time, things played out differently.

Bowen wrote to my family, but their reply contained no gold or silver. There was only my mother's reproach.

She said I'd enjoyed wealth and privilege for more than a decade. Now that something like this had happened, I should've taken my own life instead of shamelessly asking my family for money.

Bowen read her letter aloud to me.

Once he realized that the Ellsworth family of Belladale had completely abandoned me, he beat me viciously. Then he went outside and summoned dozens of guards.

He sneered, "I may not be able to perform in bed myself, but that doesn't mean I can't make sure you have a good time. No need to thank me. From now on, you can make plenty of money for me this way."

He actually sold me to the guards.

As I watched them approach, I clutched my clothes tightly around myself.

I had studied medicine under my grandmother since childhood. Dealing with a few men was still well within my abilities.

I pulled long, thin needles from my sleeve. The moment the guards stepped forward to grab me, I struck, driving the needles deep into several of them.

When the men behind them saw the guards at the front collapse and scream in pain, they had no idea what had happened. One after another, they rushed forward to investigate, and the room instantly descended into chaos.

Taking advantage of the confusion, I knocked Bowen to the ground and fled with Annie.

One of the guards spotted us and swung his sword viciously at Annie from behind. She shoved me forward with all her strength, then spun around and wrapped both arms around Bowen's legs.

"Miss, run! Get out of the palace! Run as far away as you can. It's the only way you'll survive!" she shouted.

Rain poured down outside. Even through the downpour, I could smell Annie's blood.

I raced through the palace corridors in the rain for what felt like an eternity. I had no idea where to go or where I could possibly find safety.

In my panic, I crashed into a young man.

I couldn't make out his face. All I knew was that I dropped to my knees at his feet and begged him to save me and Annie.

He bent down, and once he got a clear look at my face, he scooped me into his arms.

Then Bowen's shrill voice rang out behind us. "Your Highness, why are you holding that filthy thing? Hurry up and throw her out!"