Transmigrated Into The Body Of The Cursed Prince Wife
Chapter 42: The fear of the unknown

Chapter 42: The fear of the unknown

Ave sat in the garden, trying to process Lucian’s words and everything that had happened. How had he left her alive after discovering she wasn’t Selene? Why hadn’t he killed her? Did he leave her alive because he wanted to tell the Emperor she was an imposter?

She was going to be beheaded tonight if anyone found out she wasn’t the real Selene! Ave panicked as she bit her nails nervously.

And most importantly, now that he knew the truth about who she was—despite not believing that she had ended up in Selene’s body against her will and instead thinking she’d used some sort of magic to swap their souls—was he still the key to her returning home?

Did she still have to make him love her and help him? Make him love her? That would be impossible now that he knew the truth! The shadow had not mentioned any rules, no dos or don’ts, and now Ave would live in constant fear of being exposed to the rest of the royal family by the second prince.

If he had gone to report her, then it was time to escape from this palace and leave everything behind. She didn’t want to die, not now, not ever. Maybe she could simply leave the palace, open a restaurant, and sell modern dishes these people had never tasted. She could borrow some of Selene’s jewelry and sell them to raise money to start a new life before figuring out how to return home.

However, she couldn’t imagine herself living the rest of her days, perhaps even her whole life, in this era. Life in the palace was difficult enough, where she barely got anything to eat. Living as a commoner outside the palace walls might lead to her dying of depression.

She could still feel the burn on her neck where Lucian had grabbed her. If luck wasn’t on her side, she might end up with a broken neck one of these days, given how often Lucian had choked her. She had narrowly escaped death once again, so close to being slain that her body still trembled all over. The panic in her heart over what Lucian planned to do to her lingered.

"You can explain that to the royal family once they find out how you ended up here," he’d said. Didn’t that mean he planned on reporting her tonight? Perhaps she should start planning her escape now.

Ave remained seated on the barren ground of the garden, thinking through her escape plans and how to survive in a world she knew little about until she heard hurried footsteps and saw the faint glow of a lamp approaching. She quickly jumped to her feet, believing Lucian had already exposed her and that soldiers were coming to kill her. She grabbed a random stick, holding it up. If they intended to burn or kill her, she would at least die fighting.

She was a good fighter, after all—perhaps not as skilled as the soldiers here, but she’d make sure she went down fighting.

Her grip tightened around the stick as the footsteps drew nearer. She held her breath, ready to strike, only to sigh in relief when a familiar voice called out.

"Your Highness, are you out there?" It was Lydia, her voice laced with concern as she hurried into the garden, finding Ave bent over, hands resting on her knees as she tried to catch her breath and calm her nerves.

"Your Highness!" Lydia exclaimed in relief, rushing to Ave with a lamp in hand. "I’ve been looking all over for you."

Ave reached out, wrapping an arm around Lydia for support as her body continued to tremble from the shock. "I never thought I’d be so happy to see you. Are there people looking for me out there? I mean, do you sense anything strange in the atmosphere outside?" she asked, anxious to know if Lucian had already exposed her and if the soldiers were searching for her.

Lydia looked at her mistress in confusion but gladly wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. "The atmosphere seems fine. No one is looking for you," she replied.

Ave wasn’t sure if she should sigh in relief yet or go check the situation for herself to see what Lucian had done. "How did you know I was here?" she asked.

"I was searching everywhere for you when I nearly bumped into the second prince. He told me to check the garden," Lydia explained as they walked back into the palace, leaving the dark garden behind.

Ave frowned at the thought that Lucian had even bothered to tell Lydia where to find her. He had left the garden without a care in the world and had seemed ready to report her to the royals, as though her fate didn’t matter to him.

"What were you doing in the garden, Your Highness?" Lydia asked curiously, knowing her mistress disliked the barren garden, often saying it creeped her out.

"Nothing. I was just looking around," Ave muttered softly. She had done more than just look around—she had nearly lost her life tonight, she thought to herself as they stepped into the brightly lit corridors of the inner palace. The lamps and chandeliers cast a warm glow over the polished marble floors and walls, and Ave took her first calming breath since entering the garden, moving away from Lydia’s support.

"Oh my Lord, Your Highness! What happened to your neck?" Lydia gasped in shock, her eyes falling on the red marks that marred Ave’s pale, slender neck.

Ave’s hand automatically went to her hair. She pulled out the pins, letting it fall over her shoulders to cover the marks. She gave the horrified maid a reassuring smile. "It’s nothing."

She preferred to keep what had happened in the garden a secret, at least until she was sure Lucian wouldn’t expose her tonight. Though her neck still throbbed with pain, and she wanted nothing more than to hurt Lucian in return, she dared not. He could get away with hurting her because she wasn’t in a position to fight him or even be angry with him. After all, Selene was his wife, and Ave had taken over her body. It was a wonder he hadn’t killed her earlier.

To make sure of a few things, Ave looked around cautiously before leaning toward Lydia and whispering, "I want to ask you something." When the maid looked at her curiously, Ave asked, "What happens to someone who is suspected of using or having magic?"

Though she wasn’t sure if what had happened in the garden was caused by her or just a coincidence, she wanted to know her fate if Lucian reported that she had used magic.

Lydia’s eyes widened as she looked around and moved closer to her mistress. "You can’t mention that word, Your Highness. The punishment is severe. If you are suspected of using it or even being associated with it, you would be burned alive in the market square."

Ave felt her throat run dry, her knees threatening to give way beneath her, but she steadied herself. "Okay... I’d be doomed if that prince tells on me tonight," she thought miserably.

"You shouldn’t talk about that word again, Your Highness. People would easily believe you’re associated with it if they hear you. We are from Gina, and you were tested negative years ago. You shouldn’t mention it again," Lydia remarked, her concern growing as she noticed her mistress looked as pale as a sheet and was trembling slightly.

Ave had many questions after hearing that Selene had been tested negative for magic and wondered what Gina was, but then Lydia spoke up again.

"You should go, Your Highness. It’s time for the royal dinner, and everyone is heading there..." Lydia muttered, refraining from pressing further about the marks on her mistress’ neck. She had already deduced that the second prince had caused them, given that she had seen him leaving the quarters earlier.

"Shoot! I have to be at the dinner," Ave muttered in annoyance, panic rising as she realized she would have to face the dinner with the looming fear of whether or not Lucian had exposed her. If she chose not to go, it would be seen as disrespectful and could earn her punishment if it turned out Lucian hadn’t reported her.

She had to go to the dinner to find out her fate, and that terrified her more than anything else. Not to mention, she would likely be assigned a task by the Empress if everything went well, which she had been curious about until her encounter with Lucian in the garden.

She hurried toward the dining hall, gathering her gown in one hand while using the other to try and rearrange her hair, ensuring it concealed her neck properly. When she arrived at the hall, she stopped abruptly, realizing everyone was already present. All eyes turned to her as she entered, panting from her run.

Swallowing hard as she tried to gauge their expressions, Ave met the Empress’s relaxed eyes and realized she hadn’t been reported—yet, at least. She quickly bowed her head in apology for being late, first toward the Emperor, then the Empress, careful not to repeat the mistake she had made last time.

She had already fallen into enough trouble for one day.

"It seems Princess Selene has begun to forget her place among the royals, arriving in the dining hall after the Emperor. Are you trying to insult his authority?" questioned the fourth consort with a sneer. The woman had been shown respect by Ave last time, but now, without so much as a glance in her direction, the foolish girl hadn’t bowed to her.

"Selene arrived late because I gave her a task to complete, Seraphina. If you have a problem with that, you may confront me," the Empress said with a gentle smile, her words a subtle reminder of her superiority. Seraphina, despite her attempts to act powerful within the royal family, was beneath her in every way. And now that Elara was certain Selene was on her side, she was back to supporting anything the girl did.

Seraphina’s smile tightened. "I dare not, Your Majesty. I wasn’t aware you had sent her on an errand." Then she shot a glare in Ave’s direction, adding, "I had forgotten that despite being the wife of our dear second prince, you will forever remain an errand girl."

The insult had no impact on Ave, who was entirely unaware it was even an insult. She glanced around the long dining table where everyone was seated, observing the different expressions directed her way. Some glared at her—the first prince included—while the fourth prince regarded her with his chin held high, as though to remind her of his higher status, probably because of their last encounter outside the palace.

Her eyes fell on Princess Thalia, who smiled warmly at her, while the twin girls seated beside the princess regarded her with a snobbish look. Ave didn’t even bother glancing at the third prince. Instead, her gaze landed on Lucian, whose expression had turned unreadable and blank as his gaze locked with hers for a fleeting moment before he looked away from her like nothing had happened in the garden.

He hadn’t told on her, why? Ave thought as she looked at him. He had looked ready to go and tell on her earlier and now, however, the fact that he hadn’t told on her was a little bit relieving.

Slowly, Ave made her way to the empty seat beside him and sat down. Then, she leaned toward him when no one was looking and whispered, "Thank you..."