Before giving birth, the queen overheard the Queen Dowager talking to the king. She had been about to visit her husband, but she hadn't expected him to be entertaining his mother.
She stopped the court lady from announcing her arrival and quietly waited outside.
"Make your concubine your queen and dispose of the current queen," the Queen Dowager said.
"Mother, what are you saying?" the king asked in shock. "My queen is pregnant, and she will give birth to the heir."
"Do you truly believe that? How many miscarriages has she suffered? Do you really think this pregnancy will be successful? Even the Royal Physician told me that there is a possibility she will miscarry again since it has happened so many times before."
"Queen Dowager, stop making a fuss over this. Why should I dispose of her when I already have a concubine who has given me a child?" the king asked.
"That is exactly my point! The queen is of no use to the throne. She cannot even give you an heir."
"Can't you see that she's pregnant? I will have an heir through her. Why do you keep insisting on getting your way? I am not disposing of my queen!" the king said firmly.
"Even if she suffers another miscarriage?" the Queen Dowager asked.
The king remained silent.
"If the queen gives birth to an heir, I will no longer ask you to dispose of her, and I promise I will treat her well from now on. But if she suffers another miscarriage, you will have no choice but to dispose of her."
"Mother!" the king shouted, startling the queen, who was waiting outside.
"What? Are you going to oppose your mother again? I supported you even when I was against your marriage. I accepted your decision despite knowing this day would come. I have been patient with both of you, but I have reached my limit. Your Majesty, I am not doing this for power. I am doing this for the good of the throne. Why can't you see that?" the Queen Dowager shouted.
"Dispose of the queen if she suffers another miscarriage. If you refuse, I will take my own life. You will regret the day you let your own mother die!"
The queen decided not to enter the king's chamber. She quietly turned away, her heart heavy with everything she had just heard.
She wiped away her tears as she returned to her chamber, determined to prove the Queen Dowager wrong. She would give birth to the heir. She would make the Queen Dowager take back every hurtful word she had spoken.
But that hope turned to ashes when the Royal Physician announced that the queen's baby was no longer breathing.
The conversation between the king and the Queen Dowager echoed in her mind.
Fear consumed her.
Her thoughts spun wildly, and she no longer knew what to do. She had lost her baby, and now she would likely lose her position as queen. She didn't want to be disposed of. She wanted to stay with her husband. She didn't want her family's name to be stained in history as the family of a discarded queen. She wanted to remain on the throne, not because she desired power, but because she wanted to keep her dignity.
"Bring me the baby," the queen ordered, staring at the infant in the concubine's arms.
"Your Highness... what do you mean?" the concubine asked, clutching her baby tightly.
"Just give me your baby," the queen pleaded as tears streamed down her face. "I promise I'll take good care of him. Just give him to me."
"Your Highness, this is my child. Why are you trying to take him away from me?"
"My baby died, and I need yours. Can't you give him to me?"
The queen was no longer the woman she once was. Grief had driven her into desperation.
"No! I won't give you my baby! Stop! Don't take him!" the concubine screamed as the eunuchs pried the child from her arms.
She immediately fell to her knees before the queen.
"Your Highness... please. You are a mother too. Please don't take my baby."
The concubine begged desperately, her tears falling uncontrollably.
"What about me?" the queen cried angrily. "Do you know what will happen when the king and the Queen Dowager learn that my baby died? They will dispose of me. And you... you will become the queen!"
The concubine shook her head violently.
"I won't stand in your way, Your Highness. I never wanted to become queen. Please... just give my baby back."
She sobbed uncontrollably, trembling with fear that she would lose the child she had just given birth to.
"Please, Your Highness... I am not after your position. I don't want to become queen. I only want my baby."
Her cries echoed throughout the chamber.
"And what about my pain?" the queen shouted. "I lost my baby, and now I am about to lose my position too. I already gave my husband to you even though it broke my heart. Can't you give your baby to me?"
She was drowning in grief, barely aware of what she was saying. Years of pain had finally broken her.
"Your Highness, we will leave the palace. Please... just give me my baby back. You will never see us again. I swear we will never return."
"Promises are made to be broken. I've heard enough promises."
At that moment, the queen looked like someone consumed by darkness. Hatred burned in her eyes, a hatred born from years of silent suffering.
"If I can't have your baby... then no one will."
Everyone in the room froze in horror, especially the child's mother.
The concubine begged even harder, nearly pressing her forehead to the queen's feet.
But the queen's heart had already closed itself.
She was desperate to save herself before it was too late.
"Kill the baby," the queen ordered.
The eunuchs obeyed.
The queen left the concubine's chamber while the mother's desperate screams echoed behind her.
She returned to her own chamber and bathed in silence.
The court ladies cleaned the room and prepared her bed, making sure she would be as comfortable as possible.
The queen slept through the night.
Meanwhile, the concubine cried without end for the child she had lost. Even when her court ladies asked where the baby was, no words came from her lips.
The next day, the king received the devastating news that both the queen's and the concubine's babies had died. The Queen Dowager was furious because she had believed that the concubine would give birth to the kingdom's heir.
The king, the queen, and the Queen Dowager sat upon their thrones while the concubine knelt before them. She looked exhausted and grief-stricken.
"Miana, would you care to explain what happened? The Royal Physician said you were in perfect health to deliver your baby," the king began.
The concubine looked at the queen as tears streamed down her cheeks. All she felt now was betrayal.
"Why don't you ask the queen, Your Majesty?" the concubine said boldly.
The king and the Queen Dowager looked at the queen in confusion, but the queen managed to compose herself.
"I lost my baby too. You are not the only one in pain," the queen replied.
"You liar! You traitor! You killed my baby! I begged for your mercy, but you still had my baby killed!" the concubine screamed.
Both the king and the Queen Dowager were shocked by the concubine's hysterical outburst.
"Watch your words. I am still your queen. Why are you blaming me for your loss? I lost a child as well," the queen said, tears welling in her eyes.
"I never imagined that the queen could be so cruel. I thought you were different from the other queens, but it turns out you are even worse than they are."
The concubine no longer cared to restrain her words. Anger had completely consumed her.
"Miana! How dare you speak to the queen in such a manner? Remember your place. She stands far above you," the king scolded.
"Your Majesty, I am telling the truth. The queen killed my baby," the concubine cried once more. Her tears would not stop, yet they did nothing to ease her pain.
"I know my wife would never do such a thing. I have known her for years. What you are saying is nothing but a false accusation against the queen," the king declared firmly.
"Your Majesty... then question my court ladies. Question the eunuchs. Let them testify that I am telling the truth," she pleaded desperately.
To be fair, the king summoned the concubine's servants as well as the queen's attendants. One by one, they all testified that the queen was innocent.
Little did the king know, the queen had already spoken to the concubine's servants beforehand, ensuring that none of them would mention what had truly happened and that they would deny every accusation the concubine made.
"Do you realize that making false accusations against the queen is an act of treason?" the king said angrily.
"I am not lying," the concubine pleaded once again.
"Enough!" the king thundered. "I have heard enough. I will not tolerate you calling my wife a murderer. Guards, take this woman away. Throw her into the royal prison. She will face execution before long."
The queen and the Queen Dowager exchanged glances, both surprised by the king's unwavering decision.
Tears filled the concubine's eyes one last time before she spoke.
"I hope you will be satisfied with the choice you have made, Your Majesty. I begged for justice, but you closed your ears to my pleas. You will pay for everything you have done to me. From your next generation to your last descendant, they will suffer the same agony I feel today. You will never know true happiness. All that awaits your bloodline is pain. This curse shall remain with your family forever..."
Those were the concubine's final words before the guards dragged her away to the royal prison.
One week later, she was sentenced to death.
Seraphina woke up panting. The dream had felt so real. What made it even more unsettling was that the queen in her dream was her grandmother, while the king looked exactly like Lucca's master when he was young. How did she know it was Lucca's master's younger self? Because they looked so much alike. As for Miana, she looked exactly like Mandy Moore.
She tried to calm herself. The dream had been frightening. She never expected to have another vivid dream after the one about Xavier and Monica.
She got out of bed and quietly left her room to get some water from the kitchen. As soon as she entered, she saw Lucca standing there, drinking a glass of water. She immediately turned around, intending to leave, but Lucca stopped her.
"I know you came here to drink some water. You don't have to avoid me," Lucca said before leaving the kitchen.
She walked to the refrigerator and took a bottle of water instead. She figured she might as well bring it back to her room.
After taking a few sips, she sat on her bed, realizing she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again.
Why Grandma... and Lucca's master? Did they know each other?
Her head began spinning with countless questions that she couldn't answer. She was also curious whether Lucca had seen the same dream. But she knew she couldn't ask him, not now, especially after what had happened between them the previous night.
She never managed to fall back asleep. Instead, she sat on her bed until the first rays of sunlight peeked through the window.
Suddenly, someone knocked on her door. It wasn't locked, so anyone could simply walk in. A moment later, Mira entered.
"Come on. Let's have breakfast. Everyone is already in the dining room," Mira said.
The moment Mira mentioned everyone, Seraphina immediately thought of Lucca and what had happened the night before.
She sighed.
She had no idea how to bring it up with Lucca. More importantly, she didn't want to be the one to start that conversation.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Mira asked after noticing the dark circles beneath her eyes.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Seraphina answered.
"Hmm... okay, if you say so. Now come on. Let's have breakfast," Mira said before leading the way.
Mira looked unusually cheerful that morning, so Seraphina couldn't help but ask.
"I'm just happy because the party was a success," Mira replied with a bright smile.
"That's good to hear," Seraphina answered.
However, Mira looked back at her.
"What about you? Did you enjoy the party?"
"Of course. I've never tasted food like that before. Everything was delicious," Seraphina replied, forcing herself to sound cheerful.
But her smile disappeared the moment they entered the dining room.
The three men were already seated, quietly eating their breakfast.
"Good morning, Sera!" Dominic greeted cheerfully.
She smiled back before her gaze drifted toward Lucca, who was quietly cutting his sausage with his knife.
Her curiosity only grew stronger.
She filled her plate with scrambled eggs, sausages, Caesar salad, and slices of bread. Now that she thought about it, she was starving.
She noticed Dominic watching her while she ate. The moment their eyes met, he simply smiled.
Still, she had a feeling he wanted to say something.
Was it about what had happened last night? Did Dominic and Damian know that she had discovered Lucca's strength?
"Sera, I want to go shopping today. Would you like to come with me?" Mira asked.
Shouldn't she be inviting her boyfriend instead?
"You should spend the day with your boyfriend. Once we go back home, who knows how often you'll get to see each other?" Seraphina said, even though Damian could clearly hear her.
Mira looked at Damian with pleading puppy eyes.
Damian smiled faintly.
"I'll come with you."
"Yay!" Mira beamed with excitement.
Perhaps she had asked Seraphina first out of courtesy before inviting her boyfriend.
Since she hadn't gotten any sleep, Seraphina planned to spend most of the day resting in her room. She needed to regain her energy and sort out everything that had been running through her mind.
After breakfast, she offered to help wash the dishes, but the maids politely refused.
With nothing else to do, she decided to return to her room.
"Where are your parents?" she asked Mira as they walked upstairs.
"I think they're still sleeping. They really enjoyed the party, thanks to Damon," Mira replied.
I smiled before entering my room. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. As I splashed water onto my face, I yawned, a clear sign that sleep was finally catching up to me.
I lay on my bed with my arms stretched out and stared at the ceiling, letting out a heavy sigh.
Come to think of it, ever since I met Dominic and his friends, my once peaceful life had become chaotic. I didn't mean it in a bad way, but I kept meeting strange people and discovering things I was never supposed to know. On top of that, those strange visions kept appearing in my mind out of nowhere.
I didn't even understand why I kept having those dreams. It was as if they were somehow a part of me.
I sighed once more before closing my eyes.
Then the dream came again.
"My queen... what have you done?" the king asked as tears streamed down his cheeks. He had rushed to the queen's chamber after learning that she had ordered the death of the concubine's child.
The queen looked at the king, tears filling her eyes. She expected him to dispose of her at any moment. What she had done was an act of treason and a threat to the throne. She had killed the kingdom's supposed heir.
"Your mother... I overheard her telling you to dispose of me and make that concubine your queen. I was terrified that you would leave me. My baby died! It hurts so much that I couldn't give you an heir!" the queen cried as tears continued to stream down her face.
The king pitied his wife. If only his mother had been kinder to the queen. If only she hadn't pressured them to produce an heir. None of this would have happened.
The queen wiped away her tears before looking at the king with regret in her eyes.
"I made the biggest mistake of my life. I ruined the concubine's life. I killed her baby. I showed her no mercy, and I will regret what I did until the day I die," the queen confessed.
She had watched the concubine being sentenced to death with her own eyes. That regret would haunt her forever. She had acted out of unbearable grief and overwhelming fear that she would soon be disposed of. If only the Queen Dowager had understood her pain.
"I deserve to die, Your Majesty. I truly mean it," the queen said before kneeling before the king.
Whatever decision he made, she would accept it wholeheartedly. She would not resist because she knew she had committed the greatest sin of her life.
The king remained silent as tears continued to fall from his eyes.
It was all his fault.
If only he had been brave enough to stand up to his mother, none of this would have happened. If only the queen had never overheard their conversation, she might never have become the reason for the deaths of the concubine and her child.
But the king loved the queen too deeply to even consider disposing of her. He loved her enough to sacrifice everything for her.
"My queen..." the king whispered as he knelt before her and gently cupped her cheek. "I love you. I will not dispose of you. I will no longer listen to my mother. Let us start over."
The king and the queen cried together throughout the night. Both were consumed by grief and remorse over the choices they had made.
Because the king loved the queen so deeply, he chose to follow his heart instead of the law. He made certain that no one would ever discover the queen's involvement in the deaths of the concubine and her child. No matter what happened, he would protect his wife, even if it cost him his own life.
Two years passed after that tragic night.
As the queen grew older, she finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
At last, she had given the kingdom its long-awaited heir.
But life was far from peaceful for the king and the queen. They endured countless hardships that seemed impossible to overcome.
That was when they realized that the concubine's curse had truly taken hold.
Seraphina woke up again, panting. She hadn't even realized that she had fallen asleep a little while ago.
That dream kept returning as though it were her own memory rather than someone else's story.
But now, one thing had become clear to her. The reason Miana, who looked exactly like Mandy Moore, had uttered that curse was because of what the king and the queen had done to her and her baby.
Was that the root of everything?
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone suddenly knocked on the door.