Empress Cecilia, the one I called 'Mother' for the first fourteen years of my life, attempted to end my life with poison.
It was a potent poison that burned my throat and stomach.
What was more painful than it was the betrayal.
I spent two weeks bedridden, resenting yet still trying to understand the empress and being grateful for my nanny, who faithfully remained by my side.
"Your highness, drink… drink these. Please trust me…" Nanny asked, forcing words through sobs.
She held a cup in her trembling hands.
I tried raising my hand to no avail, but she must have caught on the way my fingers twitched because she immediately smiled brightly.
She placed the cup on the bedside table and assisted me to sit down, making me lean on the headboard.
Slowly and gently, she helped me drink.
…?
Just like that, my body, which was suffering from intense internal bleeding was healed from the liquid in the cup.
I blinked, feeling the lightness in my body.
