"You wish," Euphemia whispered.

Then everything faded to black.

*

*

*

"Pathetic."

It sounded like a woman's voice. Euphemia was fading in and out of consciousness. She did not have the strength to open her eyes to see who had just insulted her. She wasn't even sure if the voice was real.

Her body was burning up. Everything was a flurry of colors and voices. There were people who tried to feed her. Probably the maids. She wasn't sure. They were there and then they were not there and she herself would fade out.

She could no longer keep track of time or days. There were only times when the room would be bright and the room would be dark. Both times she would only be conscious for a while then the unfathomable pain in her body would tire her out.

"Pathetic."

It was that voice again. Loud and clear. Not like the flurry of voices she would hear from the maids who tried hard to feed her. No, this one was different.

A voice clear like glass.

A voice that seemed to be speaking inside her head.

"Go away," Euphemia said hoarsely.

She must have screamed without her remembering or maybe because she had not been drinking as much. Her own voice sounded like branches being dragged on gravel.

"Why don't you?" The voice taunted.

Euphemia forced her eyes open. She wanted to see who had the nerve to anger a poisoned person. She was sure it was not the Queen. The Queen's voice was melodic. This one was far from beautiful. The voice was not ugly.

It just sounded wrong.

It was night time and she could barely make out the dark figure standing beside her bed.

"Who are you?" Euphemia asked.

The dark figure drifted closer to her and leaned down above her face. Long strands of inky black hair shrouded her sides. Euphemia could not move in fright.

Her neck.

The woman's neck had been slit open. The blood was not red. It was a dark shade that almost looked black. As if it had been dry for several years already.

Her skin was chalkish white, her eyes were dark pools of black, and her mouth was curved into a smile.

"You know who I am," the woman said.

"I d-don't know who you are! Go away!" Euphemia screamed.

The woman threw back her head and howled with laughter. Her laughter bouncing off the walls in a devilish tune. Then she turned her gaze again towards Euphemia with a somber look this time.

"Banish the pain with might!

Bless thee with healing light!"

The room was filled with golden light. Euphemia felt the warm light wash over her body. The light slowly faded and so did the pain.

Euphemia stared at the corpse-like woman in shock who had just healed her.

"Saintess," the woman whispered and disappeared into a wisp of black smoke.

Then she was gone.

No trace of the black smoke or her eerie presence. Only a very confused Euphemia was left.

"What the hell?"

*

*

*

Prince Vincent threw his plate on the floor. The plate broke into several pieces and the soup spread across the floor.

"Who made this?! I want the chef executed. This is pig sh*t! How dare you serve me such filth!"

The maid hastily began to pick up the broken pieces of the plate.

"Your Highness, I beg your pardon but if we execute that chef, we would no longer have a chef in the Imperial Palace," an old butler said.

Vincent raised his eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Your Highness. The one who cooked that soup is the twentieth and the last one we have."

"Then hire new ones. Unless you are telling me I cannot do what I want," Vincent said.

"No, Your Highness. I would not dare. Your wish is my command," the butler said and hurriedly left.

"Ouch!"

Vincent looked at the maid. Her finger was bleeding. She must have cut herself from picking up the broken pieces.

"Your commoner blood is dirtying the floor of the Imperial Palace, maid," Vincent said.

The maid cowered in fright. The prince had become so frightening ever since the incident with the Saintess. The wound on his face had not yet healed fully. His scarred face and angry demeanor made him almost monstrous.

"I'm s-so sorry, Your Highness! I'll c-clean this up quickly!" The maid said, her hands trembling in fear while she wiped the floor.

"Black hair. Just like hers," Vincent murmured.

The maid knew who the prince was talking about. The Saintess had beautiful black hair. The maid quickly stood up.

"I have finished cleaning, Your Highness. I will excuse myself. Praise be, future Sun of the Empire," the maid said and curtsied.

She was about to reach the door when she was suddenly pulled by her hair.

"Why don't you help your crown prince release some stress?" Vincent said with a sneer as he dragged the maid by her hair.

"P-please, Your Highness! Have m-mercy!" The maid said repeatedly in between sobs.

"Do you see my face, commoner? Do you not think it's unfair that your crown prince has a wound on his face while your ugly face is unscarred? YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!"

Vincent grabbed the knife from the table.

"Show your loyalty to the Empire, commoner," Vincent said.

"Your Highness, please, have m-mercy!"

He was about to bring down the knife to the maid's face when the door suddenly opened. It was the old butler.

"Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting but you have guests," the butler said.

Vincent frowned. He did not remember accepting any guests in the Imperial Palace.

"Who are they? Why have they come unannounced?" Vincent asked.

"They said they are from House Summers, Your Highness. The Viscount arrived with his daughter and he said he already had an appointment with you," the butler said.

"Summers? I do not remember that House," Vincent said.

He pushed the maid aside, his sadistic interest gone. The maid scurried out of the room.

"I believe you have already met the young lady before. Her name is Rubiella and she's the red-haired lady you spoke with outside the Palace gates," the butler said.

Vincent's face darkened. "Why have they come? Did the father mention?"

"He said he wishes to formalize your engagement with the young lady, Your Highness."

*

*

*

A few nights ago...

"My Lady, could you perhaps go inside the Imperial Palace?" Hansel asked.

"I'm not certain. Why?" Rubiella asked.

"If you can find Lady Euphemia perhaps you can help her get out of the Imperial Palace. I can't get in because I'm not a noble but I was wondering if you can," Hansel said.

Hansel was looking at her with eyes full of hope and she did not have the heart to tell him she herself had not been allowed inside the gates. Actually, there might be a way but she would need to get help from her father.

"I will see what I can do," Rubiella said.

Hansel smiled with relief. "Thank you, My Lady."

"No trouble at all," Rubiella said while mustering a confident smile.

"Are you a frequent guest of the Palace, My Lady? May I know how you will arrange for a reason to get inside?" Hansel asked.

No, he should not know. He should not know that her mother and the Queen were best friends in the past and they had agreed to marry their children to each other. There was no way she was going to tell him that.

" I um . . . I've been there before. No need for you to worry about the details. Just take care of the Duke and I will take care of Euphee," Rubiella said.

Hansel nodded. "As you wish, My Lady. I shall take my leave now. I do apologize for putting you in such a position. If you feel that you are in any danger please do not proceed with the plan and just get out of the Palace."

Hansel got up to leave.

"Um, Hansel. It's late already," Rubiella said.

Hansel looked confused. "Yes, it is, My Lady. I apologize for interrupting your sleep."

Rubiella felt her cheeks go warm. "I mean it's quite dangerous to walk in the streets at this time of the night, do you not think so?"

Hansel smiled. "I am able to defend myself. I did protect you once, My Lady."

"It's better to be safe. What if there are too many of them? What if those men get revenge on you?" Rubiella said

She knew she sounded ridiculous. Hansel looked like he was perfectly capable to deal with street goons.

"I have skills you have not yet seen, My Lady. You have nothing to worry about," Hansel said.

Skills she had not yet seen. Rubiella blushed. She had a feeling Hansel had skills indeed.

Hansel looked concerned. "Is there something wrong, My Lady? I fear I do not understand what you are trying to say."

"I um . . ."

Hansel crouched on the floor in front of her and looked up at her blushing face.

"Yes, My Lady?"

"I want you to . . . "

"If you have anything you wish for me to do, I'll gladly oblige. I am the one who asked you a favour and I will gladly repay your kindness, My Lady."

"I WANT YOU TO SLEEP WITH ME!"

*

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END OF SEASON ONE

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