Canaria glanced at the cradle with a deathly black face.

Barbara was taken away by the knights of the emperor.

Eventually, she would die there.

Lexus was not as merciful as Lenisha.

If Canaria couldn’t dispel the suspicion, Barbara would die.

But what could Canaria do?

Ironically, Canaria feared Barbara’s betrayal.

Barbara was short-tempered.

Before, Barbara, fearing her own pain, had quickly revealed the truth.

Canaria blinked her dark eyes.

‘I should have killed her then.’

In this imperial palace, a person’s life wasn’t as easy to take as that of a fly.

Canaria buried her face in her knees.

If Barbara confesses Canaria’s denial to Lexus?

Canaria’s body trembled with fear.

Various thoughts crossed her mind.

Lexus might come after her with a sword to kill her.

If that door opened right now… Canaria swallowed her saliva.

“No… I don’t want to…”

She wanted to live. That’s why she did all this.

Living made her greedy.

She wanted more after becoming noticeable to Lexus, and after spending nights with him.

She knew it was greedy for something she shouldn’t desire.

Canaria’s eyelids trembled.

“I want to live…”

Canaria shed tears.

No matter how hard she tried, could a sparrow become a crane?

Canaria’s breathing slowed.

In her dream, she saw a younger Lexus from a more youthful time.

The day Canaria caught Lexus’s noticeable eyes.

“Jessica! Quickly go and fetch water. Her Majesty the Empress is about to go to sleep.”

Jessica nodded in response to the urgent demand mixed with irritation.

Today, all the maids had been busy preparing the Empress’s palace.

It was quite a special day today.

Wasn’t it Lenisha and Lexus’s wedding anniversary?

Perhaps today, the relationship between Lenisha and Lexus might improve…!

The maids in the Empress’s palace were filled with such dreams.

If Lenisha bore a suitable heir and the relationship between the couple was restored…!

Maybe the current situation, like a candle in the wind, could improve a bit.

The maids in the Empress’s palace feared the unpredictable blood wind at any moment.

The reason why the maids often ran about in hurried steps was that.

Jessica sighed.

Actually, Jessica wasn’t very interested in such things. She did it because she was told…

‘I’m struggling to live, and what does others’ business have to do with me.’

She was beaten by her father on the street and then picked up by Duke Rotera.

Her drunkard father sold Jessica for a few gold coins.

Duke Rotera was a compassionate person. He said to Jessica, ‘You are about the same age as my daughter. At an age when you should be dreaming, you’re going through such things.’

Jessica would never forget the warm touch of his hand that gently stroked her head.

And Jessica became a maid taking care of Lenisha.
Due to her young age, Jessica ended up being responsible for cleaning Lenisha’s feet, and it had continued until now.

At first, she felt relieved that it wasn’t worse.

And then, she was grateful for the warm bed and delicious food.

Now…

“Jealous. What’s the difference between me and that woman?”

Jessica pursed her lips.

Fate diverged depending on which father you were born under.

Jessica grumbled nervously. She had been told to fetch water, so she had to.

As she did, Jessica, who had soon improved her mood, started humming a song.

One of the things Jessica was better than Lenisha.

Jessica was quite good at singing. Even her colleagues acknowledged it.

Singing made her feel better.

Jessica’s clear soprano echoed slowly through the corridor.

Her colleagues shot her glances, but she ignored them.

It was when Jessica, lost in her own mood, was walking.

“What kind of maid are you?”

A solid voice echoed.

Jessica quickly turned her head.

Lexus stood alone in the corridor.

“It’s been there since earlier. My dear servants have been gossiping. I heard clearly what day it is today.”

Lexus shrugged his shoulders.

“I’ve had a headache all day. I even wanted to kill everyone.”

The creepy-sounding Lexus tilted his head.

“But just now, I felt quite good.”

Lexus kneeled and sat down.

Lifting Jessica’s chin, Lexus said, “Your singing isn’t bad. Will you continue singing?”

Jessica’s eyes shook.

The dormant desire rose to the surface.

‘Now’s the chance, Jessica! This man is the emperor. He can give you anything you want!’

Jessica’s lips opened.

“So, what will you give me?”

“What?”

Lexus opened his eyes wide.

As if he hadn’t expected to hear such words at all.

Lexus burst into laughter.

Up close, Lexus was a remarkable handsome man.

Contrary to what people said, he didn’t seem like someone who would swing a sword like a ruffian.

The rumors of blood flowing wherever he went might have been exaggerated.

Jessica swallowed her saliva.

“Um, please take me… I will sing for you for the rest of my life. Please let me live by your side.”

Jessica gathered extraordinary courage.

“I can do a lot. Whatever you desire, Your Majesty…”

“What kind of maid did you say you were doing?”

Lexus interrupted Jessica’s words.