1 Marsella Ross

THE 675TH YEAR OF THE IMPERIAL CALENDAR

In the middle of the night, in the throne hall of the imperial palace of the Cez Empire, the approaching footsteps clip-clopped down the bleached-marble palace hallway. Each step echoed sharply across the hall, sounding overly loud in my ears.

"Your Majesty, I have been waiting for you," I said calmly as I sat on the throne; carved of a fine oak crested with several jewels and gold, forming an elegant coat of arms.

The figure slinked out of the shadows, halting just when the light from the sconce hit his face, and a pair of deep-set cerulean eyes glinted as they landed on mine.

That man, Joseph Cezar III, the 32nd and current emperor of the Cez empire, and my husband, stood proudly before me. "I believe that seat is mine, my Queen," he said, not even bothering to conceal his ridiculing tone.

What a bastard, I thought. His Queen was dying, poisoned by his own hand, and all he cared about was his throne. I let out a loud, hysterical cackle, realizing how foolish I was to trust such scum.

"Have you finally lost your mind, my queen? To laugh in front of death's door, you are surely amazing," he mused, letting out a low chuckle.

This kind of conversation was unfamiliar, but not shocking. Joseph never loved me, no matter what I did for him or this damned kingdom, it never once mattered because of the witch blood coursing through my veins.

"Why?" I asked as I coughed, covering my lips with my palm. I didn't have to take a glimpse of the watered-down mucus to know that it was blood that stained my skin. But that didn't faze me, nor the blistering heat coursing through my body at this very moment.

"Why?" he repeated, feigning ignorance.

"What did I do to deserve death? Ah... no, that's not correct. Of course, I deserve death. But... not in your hands." A light scoff slipped past my lips. "I deserve to know that much, at least."

The corner of his lips curled into a smirk. "Because you are my Empress, Vera. And as an Empress, there is nothing more honorable than to die for your Emperor, is there not?" There was not even the slightest bit of remorse in his tone.

I was speechless. Remorse or regret… maybe a half-hearted apology or a reasonable explanation... That is all I wanted to hear from him, and yet all I got was bullshit.

"So, I should accept my death because it's my duty?" I chortled, shaking my head in disbelief. "You really have a way with words, my emperor!" I laughed and laughed until I coughed up blood. "To die of poison orchestrated by my beloved husband, isn't that comical?"

"Didn't you say that my happiness is your happiness?" he uttered. I stopped laughing and locked eyes with him. "Was that an empty promise, my empress? Your death will give me nothing but joy. So please, get out of my seat and rest in your chambers. The poison will take effect around morning. Fret not, I'll be sure I'm there to hold your hand as you take your last breath."

How silly, I thought. He didn't bother to hide his contempt now that I can't lift my sword. I leaned my back against the throne comfortably, my arms on the armrest, as I gazed down at him.

"You're a pathetic man, Seph," I said without fear of my impending doom, but only sadness. "You've fought for the throne all your life, and now that you've become the emperor, you'd even kill the person who brought you this chair." That was the truth; a fact we both knew.

Joseph was the weakest candidate to ascend the throne. I helped him succeed it but he couldn't trust me and chose to kill me instead. Pity, was it not? That I loved the wrong person.

"Die on your bed, my Empress."

I batted my eyes, as he was already in front of me, while he coldly looked down. My reflection in his eyes looked pathetic. How could I still look at him with such longing?

"The throne has been bathed in blood, my emperor." I coughed and looked away. "Dying here isn't bad at all." I was exhausted and barely hanging onto life. I smirked when I heard him unsheathe his sword.

"What a stubborn Empress," he stated emotionlessly. "As gratitude for helping me reach this far, shall I fulfill your wish?" he tugged my hair back, forcing me to look him in the eye.

A soft smile resurfaced on my lips, cupping his cheek while I nodded. "Dying from poison is a disgrace, my husband." He seemed annoyed by my response, but provoking him was the only thing I was good at. As for expressing my love, I could only express it through sullying my hand for him.

My death would be the end of my suffering from this unrequited love. In my next life, I would live for myself, Joseph. I would never live for someone else.

"I hope you'll be at peace now, my pathetic love," I whispered weakly and took my last breath as his sword ripped through my flesh and then… nothing.

***

"That's how I died…" I mumbled, looking around at the shabby room I woke up in. The loud fuss outside woke me up. "... I died, so why the hell am I here?" I wondered, confused by everything ever since I opened my eyes.

I looked up, startled when someone kicked the door open, and a few knights wearing familiar noble insignias walked in.

"What are you doing?!" bellowed the old woman, trying to hold them back. I recognized her immediately from the foreign memories in my head. "You can't just barge in here!"

"Scram!" A knight pushed her down, drawing his sword and pointing it at the woman. She immediately trembled in fear and looked at me apologetically.

'What the hell is going on here?' I wondered, waiting for the knights to state their intentions. 'Did I somehow escape last night? Did Joseph send them to finish me off?' My memories were all jumbled, a weird mix of my own and someone else's, and it felt like my head was about to burst.

"Lady Marsella, we are here to escort you back to the Ross Estate," a knight announced sternly. "Your father needs you back to the main residence."

The Ross Estate? I arched my brow, recognizing the name. Did he say my father? No, he called me Marsella… just then, I realized that the name of the owner of these foreign memories was Marsella. Her last memory was her, being severely sick and dying alone in this cramped room.

"Lady Marsella! You shouldn't --!" the old lady choked as the knight thrust his sword closer to her neck. That woman was the servant tending to Marsella and the one who practically raised her. She was searching for help to cure Marsella's illness but was unsuccessful and Marsella died.

A shallow breath slipped past my lips. I understood now. Very well. I nodded in understanding as my head slowly cleared up.

"Lady Marsella, you should --" I raised my hand upon seeing the knight take a step towards me.

"I'll go and see my beloved father," I said, smiling brightly, as there was nothing I could do at this point.

My response shocked my nanny, as well as the knights. I couldn't blame them. Marsella was a good-for-nothing idiot. If she were the one in this body, I'm certain she would be trembling in fear or have lost her mind already.

But since I had her memories, I knew the people who drove her to insanity. I didn't plan on getting revenge against Joseph as I didn't want to get tangled with him again, but I'd get revenge for Marsella for letting me own her body, and for my peace of mind as well.

"Please wait for me outside. I need to change." My smile didn't reach my ear as I cocked my head to the side. "I can't meet my father looking like this, can I?"

The knights looked at each other before the person I was talking to cleared his throat and nodded. "We will wait for you outside. Don't even think of running away," he warned, making me mentally roll my eyes as they left.

Once the door shut closed, I shifted my gaze to Marsella's nanny, who couldn't stand up because of fear.

"My lady..."

"I'll be fine, Mel. Don't cry." I smiled, nodding encouragingly. "Please help me change. If the Marquess wants me back to the estate, that only means it's urgent."

"But my lady, how can you travel with your health condition?"

"I'd rather travel like that than see your head leave your shoulder." Her breath hitched upon my blunt response. Sorry, Marsella's nanny. It was a habit of mine.

I kept my warm smile as I took a deep breath. "Please believe in me when I say I will be fine."

Marsella's nanny, Melanie, and I stared at each other. Staring at her made me feel sorry for her. Marsella was dead, and the person she was now looking at with eyes full of worry was another person.

"Alright, my lady," she said with a sigh before she struggled to stand up and prepare my clothes.

As soon as she turned around, my eyes glinted. 'Ross Family, huh? Are they sure they are inviting this venomous person into their estate? Hmm... I can't wait to meet my new family.'