Siding her husband

Because she couldn't stand it when someone was being stomped on, she faced the Empress, who she still believed was the least favored consort, and said, "Why can't he do it when his siblings are doing it? What's wrong with having his own soldiers? Are you afraid he might outshine the rest and your fucker of a son?"

The room fell silent. The audacity of her words left everyone in shock. It seemed the princess had forgotten her place in the palace. Not once had she ever dared to make eye contact with the Empress or speak out of tone in the presence of the Emperor, but today she dared to say such a thing?!

Lucian's grip on her wrist loosened, and he looked at her with a mixture of surprise and suspicion. What was she up to? Selene had never stood up for him whenever he was being put in his place, not even when she pretended to like him had she spoken up to side with him. But today, she seemed to be doing a lot of things that would give the Empress reasons to get rid of her, or had they planned it together this time again?

The Empress's face contorted with rage, while the Emperor's expression darkened as not even his own children had ever defied him by questioning his words.

"You seem to be forgetting your place in the room today, Princess Selene. You are in no position to speak unless you are spoken to!" A man yelled from the back of the room. He was the Empress's brother and the Emperor's right-hand man, feared and respected by all.

Ave, who had no idea who he was and had not even noticed his presence until now, frowned and glared at him. "And who the fuck are you to speak?" She feared no one but the Emperor and Empress, and this man was obviously just some guard who thought he could speak to a princess brazenly.

Even though she was a princess by name, weren't they supposed to show and give her respect? Imagine a guard thinking he could butt in when they were having a serious conversation here. She might not have liked this psychopath prince, but she wouldn't sit still while they stomped on him.

He had acted so tough and macho with her, but now he let them talk to him like that while he sat there like a statue. Didn't he know if one didn't speak up to their parents once in a while they wouldn't learn to respect you and would continue to put you down until you were ruined.

The Emperor's dark eyes narrowed as he looked at Ave, a girl he had never bothered to exchange words with in past until now. "Princess Selene, you dare to speak in such a manner in my presence?" His voice was low and dangerous.

Ave felt a shiver run down her spine but stood her ground. "I apologize, Your Majesty. But I believe in fairness. If others can train soldiers, why can't Prince Lucian? He deserves the same respect and opportunities just like__!"

Before Ave could complete her words, the Emperor's right-hand man pulled out his sword, and in a flash, he was beside her with the glimmering blade against her throat.

"How dare you, a lowly servant, speak out of place to the almighty Emperor?!" he rebuked savagely. He had been the one to bring the girl to his sister as part of their plan for the second prince, and for the past years, she had been obedient to them—until now.

Once someone dared to go against them, it was an offense punishable by death, and this seemed like the right opportunity to kill her with a good reason for disrespecting the Emperor.

Ave's eyes widened at the feel of the cold, sharp blade against her throat. She nervously raised her finger and touched the blade, and when it cut her finger, her eyes widened even more in horror. It... it was a real sword!

She swallowed hard and tightened her hold on Lucian's hand, which he seemed to be letting go of. It seemed she would lose her life for daring to speak up for a man she didn't even like.

Sweat trickled down her forehead as she turned her eyes towards the blonde woman she assumed was the Empress for help, but to her surprise, the woman was looking away, frightened herself.

What was she going to do? Should she fall to her knees and apologize to them? But she hadn't done anything that needed that sort of an apology!

Lucian, on the other hand, looked on with narrowed eyes at the sword pressed against her neck, feeling her nails digging desperately into his hand. He tried to pull his hand away from hers, but she only tightened her grip, as if holding on for dear life. Was she stupid or what? Didn't she know she was supposed to apologize for speaking out of turn, or her head would be on the floor in a matter of moments?

"You jerk! Do something before they behead our wife!" His beast growled inside him, using the word "jerk" even though it had no idea what it meant.

"She got herself into trouble; I didn't ask her to speak for me!" Lucian retorted internally, still convinced that this might all be an elaborate show to make him trust her again. He would only believe she was genuinely supporting him when her head was actually on the floor, because he knew the Empress would never allow that to happen if this were just for show.

"Then how about I take over and teach them all a lesson? Are you going to do something, or should I do it?" the beast threatened, already pushing against the boundaries of Lucian's control, eager to emerge and protect his woman at any cost.

Ave closed her eyes when the man raised his sword, ready to cut off her head. This was it, she thought. Her mouth had finally gotten her into trouble before she could return home. She would die in 1303 without ever getting the chance to tell her story of transmigrating back in history. And all for what?

For speaking up for a man who'd almost killed her in his bathtub. 'Lucian, you jerk! I will get back at you in my ghost form.'

She let go of Lucian's hand and shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain. But when the pain didn't come after several agonizing seconds, and all she heard was a collective gasp in the hall, she sneaked open one eye.

Her eyes widened in shock when she noticed a bare hand grabbing the sword that was an inch from her neck. She slowly looked from the bleeding hand to its owner and saw it was Lucian. His ember eyes flashed dangerously as he looked down at the man holding the sword.

The Empress was out of her chair in a flash. "How dare you interfere with the royal punishment of an insolent person!" she spat, her voice trembling with fury.

Lucian didn't face the Empress but directed his words to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, forgive my wife for her foolishness. She speaks strangely after her accident because she's starting to lose her sanity."

The Emperor raised his hand, signaling for the guard to lower his sword. Once the sword was lowered, Ave sighed in relief and almost fell to her knees as her body shook. That was a close call.

The Emperor's hardened face didn't soften one bit as he spoke, "Very well, Lucian. Since your wife has lost her mind, you two are excused from joining us for dinner tonight. However, since she dared to speak out of turn today, she shall be punished by other means." His tone was indifferent as he added,

"You can stay in the main palace for the night; your palace is under investigation, and your workers are under interrogation for any signs of treason. Until it's done, you are not allowed to step foot there. And ensure your wife learns her place next time." He dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

Lucian bowed his head respectfully, though deep down, he was seething with rage. "Of course, Your Majesty. We will take our leave now."

Ave could feel everyone's eyes on her—a mix of curiosity, disdain, and shock. She had narrowly escaped a terrible fate, and the reality of it left her shaken. But not so shaken that she didn't hear what the Emperor had said.

Her eyes widened in a second wave of horror as she realized she wouldn't be eating the dinner that had been teasing her nose the whole time. She had been starving, and now she would be deprived of eating again?!

Deciding to pretend she hadn't heard the Emperor's words dismissing them, she reached out to open the lid on the tray of food she'd been wanting to open earlier, but before she could, Lucian caught her hand again and pulled her to her feet.

"Let go of me," she whispered through clenched teeth as he began to pull her toward the exit. "Let me at least eat a bite."

"Good riddance, we wouldn't be eating with the second prince. He disgusts me every time I think about how he drinks human blood, like the rumors say," whispered Isolde, loud enough for Lucian to hear before he pulled his wife out with him.

"Hmm. I think Selene is admirable for standing up for the second prince," Princess Thalia whispered to her elder brother, who glared at her to shut up and not get involved.

Meanwhile, the Empress glared at Lucian and Ave's retreating backs, her anger barely concealed. 'This is not over,' she thought as her hand clenched around her cup, her eyes narrowing. 'Not by a long shot.'