"Thank you." Elizabeth whispered while hugging Angelina's waist.

"Your welcome your highness." Angelina knelt down.

"Haha..." Elizabeth smiled and kissed Angelina on her cheek.

???????

Every noble, who witnessed the princess's action, was stunned. Did... Did the princess just kiss the Skyler family's youngest lady on the cheek...?

But... Angelina hasn't even unwrapped her gift..!

Even the royal family were shocked.

Only Arianna, who hid among the crowd, was not surprised in the slightest.

"This princess is extremely grateful for your generous gift. You shall be greatly rewarded!" Elizabeth laughed. No longer looking tired and sickly.

"Lizzy... What was even the gift?" Leon, the second prince asked.

"What gift could possibly be better? The gift this honorable young lady has given me is life!" Elizabeth proudly announced.

"...!?!?!?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

When the princess's terrible state was made public, Angelina started her plan.

In her past life, after the Elizabeth died, it was found out that the source of her illness was a scented candle. The candle contained a poisonous herb, which causes one to turn ill if one inhales it's scent.

But what made it even more shocking was that it was a gift from the Lina kingdom. The kingdom where second concubine came from...

The Emperor, who was already trying to deal with grief, was enraged. He engaged in war with the Lina kingdom and won. It was short war. No one expected the Lina kingdom to even win one battle.

Angelina wrote a letter, asking the princess to take out all scented candles she had in her room. Of course in a polite and respectful manner.

But there was a problem. How is she supposed to give the letter to the princess? Not just anyone can send a letter to the imperial palace. Fortunately Angelina has already thought this through.

Arianna

Angelina knew Arianna was very much well acquainted with the royal family. So she asked for a favor.

She let Arianna read the letter and Arianna approved. She trusted Angelina.

"Princess! This lowly one will go summon the imperial physician immediately!" The maid rushed out of the room. Then she saw Arianna.

"lady Arianna? Pardon this servant but this servant must summon the imperial physician!" the maid bowed.

"That's alright. I'll be leaving soon. I just hope you will help me pass this letter to her highness, the princess. I think it will help her highness." Arianna handed the letter to the maid.

The maid nodded and ran to find the physician.

After being treated, the princess laid back on her bed and received the letter written by Angelina.

She remembered Angelina.

Elizabeth thought it was worth a chance and did as Angelina advised.

All Elizabeth needed to cure herself was to not inhale the poisonous scent for at least a full 10 hours.

The next morning when Elizabeth woke up, she was better.

It worked. Angelina's plan worked

Elizabeth shuddered.

Everyone told her not to leave her room. Because if she did, she will exhaust herself and become even sicker.

But it turns out that... The hidden killer... Was in her room...

It finally made sense how she felt instantly better when she took a stroll outside, or spent time outside her room. The source was in her room! And she never suspected it...

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

After explaining everything, the whole room was silent. They were all stunned.

What...?

Did... Did lady Angelina just save the princess?

Questions immediately popped up in their heads and they all felt themselves slowly fall into a panic.

How could no one not know who gave the princess a scented candle for her last birthday? Scented candles was the Lina Kingdom's specialty.

"Lizzy, do you still have the candle?" The Emperor asked.

"Yes! It's in my storage room!" Elizabeth looked at a servant and he left to get it.

Meanwhile the servant was on the way to retrieve the candle, the Empress decided to ask Angelina a question.

"Lady Angelina, how did you find out Lizzy's illness came from the scented candle?" The Empress tried to sound as not intimidating as possible. Angelina saved her daughter.

"Well... This one was just reading a book when the thought came up to mind. It was merely a slight suspicion. But I thought it was worth to try..." Angelina acted innocent and slightly ignorant.

The Empress nodded. Angelina wasn't a suspect. She was confident it was the second concubine's scheme.

"Here it is your majesty." The servant lowered his head and handed it to the Emperor.

The Emperor looked at the candle before him and took it. He stared at it for a few more seconds before ordering, "summon the physician!"

It took only two minutes for the Physician to arrive.

The ballroom was quiet and possessed a tense atmosphere.

The physician nervously walked towards the Emperor and received the candle.

He examined the candle for a few seconds and sniffed. That's when he knew it really contained a poisonous herb.

This herb was unique. It could easily be faked as a normal flower. It smelled similar to one of the Lina Kingdom's most treasured flower. But it's scent was dangerous...

If one smelled for more than an hour, it will make one ill.

Elizabeth lit the candle before she slept. She was inhaling poison all night! When she fell ill, she lit the candle again because the attractive smell helped her relax.

She never thought it could even lead to death.

When everyone heard this news, they felt the hairs behind their neck rise.

It made sense.

It all made sense of how the Lina kingdom was able to claim it was a scented candle made of a rare flower.

The Lina kingdom sent not only 1 candle, but 10 candles! The princess has already reached the 9th candle. The physician suspected that once she finished the 10th candle... The princess would be dead.

The nobles never expected this! They all thought it was just another royal birthday event! But now... This could even lead to war...

They all knew... The second concubine was over... There can't be any excuse to save her...

This was an attempted murder scheme against the imperial princess!

They, expesially the Skyler family, just wanted to leave. They couldn't stand the tension.

The duchess was already close to fainting! She was afraid her youngest child would be involved and possibly dragged into the war.

Angelina looked nervous but she was really calm. She had been waiting for this. This was important for her plan.

Befriending Arianna, winning the embroidery competition. It was all for this moment. It was all to gain the royal family's trust and favor.

The Emperor opened his mouth and closed it immediately. Then said,

"the imperial physician has spoken. This is not over yet. We will investigate this further. But for now... Lady Angelina must be awarded."

"I... Helping the princess is already enough for this one..." Angelina bowed. But she felt small hands pushing her back.

"Go go! You deserve it! You saved this princess's life!" Elizabeth smiled happily and continued to push her forward.

"Indeed lady Angelina. No need to be so humble." The Empress nodded.

"This one hasn't presented this one's gift..." Angelina was still holding the covered painting.

"Oh? What is it? Let me see! Let me see!" Elizabeth energetically jumped up and down.

"Let this one unwrap it for you, your highness." Angelina knelt down once more and started unveiling it.

When it was finally uncovered, people gasped in surprise.

It was a portrait of the Imperial family. The Emperor, the Empress, the princes, and the princess. They were painted perfectly.

Fortunately, Angel's works are rarely portraits, so no one in the ballroom reconized it.

"Did you paint this?" The Empress was stunned. It felt familiar...

"Yes I did, your majesty." Angelina lowered her head.

"Where did you learn how to paint? It's beautiful..." The Empress was impressed. Angelina was able to paint them without even looking at them!

"Thank you your majesty. I was... Self thought." Angelina forced herself to lie to her own teacher.

"Hahaha" The Emperor was in a good mood. "Very good. Very good! Now lady Angelina, what would you like as your reward?"

"I-"

"It can't be nothing." The Emperor insisted.

"Well this one isn't too sure..." Angelina pretended to be deep in thought.

"How about, for now, I bestow you my mother's red diamond pendant. Wear it and you will be permitted to enter the palace at any moment." The Emperor gave his aide, who was standing close to him, a look.

The aide nodded and left.

The crowd was dumbfounded.

The Empress's dowager's red diamond pendant... It was a gift from the late Emperor.

"We will end it here. I'm sure many of you are already exhausted. For those who haven't presented their gift, you may leave it with the servants." The Emperor stood, followed by the other members of the imperial family.

Then they all left one by one.

*************

"How was the princess's birthday miss?" Marie asked as she took out Angelina's earings and jeweleries.

"Oh it's nothing special." Angelina smiled and stared at her reflection.

"Judging by your smile... It doesn't seem as uneventful as you make it seem to be." Eric, who was sitting on the floor and reading a book by Angelina's seat, said.

Angelina, still smiling, rolled her eyes in a relaxed manner.

She looked down at the small grand chess, which hid a certain pendant and smiled.

*************

That night, a full moon appeared. It was ghost-quiet. One could even hear crickets outside.

Sitting by the window, Evelina played with her nails. Quietly listening to the silence. She seemed to be deep in thought.

Her hair was disheveled. Looking haggard, unlike her usual graceful and cute appearence.

Then she started humming a tune.

A few seconds into humming, tears formed in her eyes and eventually fell down to her chin.

________________________

A/N: got a math exam tomorrow... Wish me luck :'D (pls)