Beatrix secretly sneered in her heart after she heard the rumors from her maids. She immediately requested an audience with the Emperor and Empress. She immediately told the Emperor and Empress about what she heard while subtlety hinting and encouraging the Emperor and Empress to break the betrothal.

"Beatrix, do not worry! Our son loves you very much! He will marry you when the right time comes..." The Empress held Beatrix's hands then smiled gently. "Love him and take good care of him, okay?"

Beatrix smiled halfheartedly. She is fighting the urge to roll her eyes in front of these two people whom she could not afford to offend!

Yeah, you will surely protect and tolerate him! After all, he is your son, not me! I could not rely on anyone! I need to take matters into my own hands! I need to help and free myself!

In the middle of the night, Beatrix secretly went out of the imperial palace with the help of her servants and guards loyal to her. She is very determined to take matters into her own hands!

Several years ago, she secretly accumulated her own money, people, and other resources for a specific purpose and that is to break her betrothal and gain her freedom! She is now facing Andrew's most trusted and capable henchman in the past lifetimes but in this lifetime, she was able to meet him first and earned his trust and loyalty. He was previously named Arrow by Andrew but this time, she named him Blade.

In the past, Blade excelled as Andrew's bodyguard, messenger, and assassin. In short, he could do all types of shady and evil tasks without failing! Aside from Blade, she also employed other martial people under her command.

Blade greeted her with the utmost respect but she immediately forwent the formality and proceed to the real deal.

"Here are the two bottles of aphrodisiac. Make sure that Prince Andrew and Lady Erica drink it on the night of the Emperor's birthday and enjoy their night together. How will you do that is up to you. I am only after the successful result!" She commanded then continued: "Be careful, this is not an easy task. If you are successful, I will reward you handsomely and give you your freedom but if you failed and it is exposed..."

We will all die! Probably my whole family will be implicated and die with me! Is striving for my freedom and survival selfish to do?

She thought gloomily...

"I will not fail, Lady Beatrix! Even if I fail, I will never implicate you!" Blade swore to do the job properly. He is a serious person and he takes all his mission seriously! When he met Lady Beatrix, he never expected that she is a good person and never mistreat her people. He is very surprised that she is willing to let him go after the success of this mission.

After their secret conversation and they part ways, Prince Andrew came out of his hiding place, unable to believe everything that he heard! Since young, he developed a strange habit of secretly following and guarding Beatrix to ensure her safety and well-being. He could only sleep after she fell asleep first! He became very worried when he first discovered that she is secretly amassing money, people, resources, and connections!

Are the Lamoreaux and Marvel families planning to revolt? If that is the case, how am I going to save her when everything is exposed?

He secretly thought at that time so he also secretly amass more wealth, people, resources, power, and connections than her! He is very careful not to expose his activities and hidden resources, especially to his Imperial Father because if he is caught, he does not know how his Imperial Father will react! He will probably lose everything even his life if his Imperial Father mistakenly thought that he is planning to usurp the throne but regardless, he could not allow her to get into serious trouble and lose her life in the process! Now that he secretly heard everything and figure out her true plan, Prince Andrew could not believe that she will do anything and everything to break their betrothal!

Why, Beatrix? Why do you want to frame me?!!

He gritted his teeth and clenched his palms as he thought of Beatrix and Alrick in his mind... He remembered that the two are always happy together... Next, he imagined the two marrying each other... Lastly, he imagined them rearing their own children...

You want to destroy our betrothal so you could marry him instead?!!

He laughed and laughed while bitter tears rolled down to his cheeks in the middle of the cold and dark night... His mind became blank... He walked without direction... After a long time of walking without direction, he is no longer laughing maniacally and the bitter tears stopped rolling but his face now looks apathetic while the eyes are empty and lifeless...

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