Today is the birthday party of King Lucius. As usual, the palace maids had prepared all the preparations for the party long ago.
The King's birthday celebration party is one of the parties that must be held lavishly in addition to the celebration of the founding of the country. This is done so that the image and authority that shows the power of a king does not fade in the eyes of his people.
Usually the King will invite all the nobles in the kingdom from the lower to the upper levels. He also invited guests from other kingdoms who were his allies. And of course, all the wives and children of the king must also be present to enliven the event.
Esther took a deep breath when she saw Anne handing her an invitation to Lucius's birthday party. Unlucky! This time she had to attend a party with Arthur.
She couldn't refuse the invitation. Esther absolutely hated being the center of attention while at Nightingale. Because she has always been the center of attention in the negative in this kingdom.
Esther, who saw Anne leave her shortly after handing the invitation to the party, immediately walked into her room. She lay all over her body on the soft bed. Then, she opened the golden envelope with black edges. Esther read the invitation letter, which was written in a very old-fashioned and boring style.
Seeing the contents of the invitation letter made Esther's eyes hurt. Without thinking, Esther immediately burned the invitation letter with her magic. The invitation letter immediately burned without residue in a dark blue flame. After that, Esther immediately closed her eyes.
She was very tired of living her life as Beatrice, who was a very weak and powerless concubine like other concubines. If only she revealed her true identity right now, surely everyone there, including that bastard Averia, would fall to their knees in front of him. Gradually Esther began to enter into her subconscious and fell asleep.
~•~
Now Esther, who was wearing her pajamas, was in a glass room. She was tied up in a sitting position on a wooden chair. Esther repeatedly tried to free herself from the very thin ropes that always ended in failure. Even when she used her magic, she still failed because somehow her magic didn't work at all at that moment.
From the glass room that could automatically see out, Esther saw Prince Ronald, son of the bastard Averia, who was pouring a dark green liquid from a very luxurious-looking glass bottle into a golden glass that seemed to contain wine.
Esther guessed that what was poured into the wine was a very dangerous poison. For some reason, whatever that bastard Averia had with her child, Esther couldn't think of anything positive.
After that, Prince Ronald immediately put the glass bottle into his trouser pocket. A few moments later, entered a man who looked a little taller than Prince Ronald and had dark black hair. Wait! Wasn't that herown son, Arthur? Why did that one child get trapped in this snake's nest?
Arthur was seen sitting at the dining table. Right in front of him was an empty plate and a gold-colored glass filled with wine that Prince Arnold had just poisoned.
"So, what business did you call me here, Arnold? Shouldn't we head off to His Majesty the King's birthday party immediately?" said Arthur haughtily.
Esther was quite stunned when she saw Arthur's authority, which seemed arrogant and cold, reflecting the nature of a King. So far, Esther has only seen Arthur, who is always spoiled, respects every decision and desire, and values himself as a mother very much.
"I just want to talk and eat together for a while with my beloved brother. I don't think it's a problem if we are a little late to the palace," replied Prince Ronald casually.
"What do you want to talk about?" asked Arthur, who didn't want to make small talk with Prince Arnold.
Suddenly Esther's hearing couldn't function properly. She couldn't hear any sound, including the conversation between Arthur and Prince Arnold. All she could see was their lips moving as they spoke. However, a few minutes later, Esther saw Arthur holding the golden glass. It seemed like he was about to drink the wine containing the poison.
"ARTHUR... DON'T DRINK THAT WINE! ARTHUR..!" shouted Esther, her hands still tied.
No matter how loudly Esther screamed, Arthur didn't respond or look at himself who was confined in the glass room. Could it be that Arthur couldn't see and hear himself at all now? Even so, Esther didn't give up either.
She still kept screaming to forbid Arthur to drink the wine so as not to lose his life. Unfortunately, Arthur, without thinking and without the slightest bit of suspicion, immediately gulped down the contents of the golden colored glass. It didn't take long for the poison to start working.
Arthur immediately sprawled on the floor breathless. Esther, who saw that, immediately screamed hysterically while crying. She felt very sadry for not being able to take care of Arthur. She felt useless because she couldn't save Caroline before, and even now she can't protect Arthur either.
"ARTHUR... ARTHUR..." Esther called over and over again.
Suddenly Esther heard Anne and Helena's voice calling her name. Esther slowly opened her eyes. Turns out it was all just a bad dream. Esther could feel her cheeks wet from her own tears. Does she cry while dreaming?
"Are you all right, Princess?" asked Anne, looking worried.
Esther still gasping for breath replied, "Don't worry about me. I'm fine, Anne. Then do you know where Arthur is?"
"Arthur is at..."
"Don't tell me he's in the palace at that bastard Averia?" said Esther with a pale face. She was so afraid her dream would come true.
Squeaks....
Esther's bedroom door opened, Esther quickly turned to the door and saw Arthur who was carrying a glass of water. The man walked over to Esther who was sitting on her bed with Anne and Helena. Arthur handed Esther a glass of water.
"Are you all right mother? Just when I was about to talk about His Majesty's birthday party, I heard mother screaming my name."
Esther grabbed Arthur's shoulders and looked at him seriously. For some reason, from this very close distance, Esther could see a blush on Arthur's cheeks.
"When you're at the party, don't eat or drink anything that bastard gives you, I mean Averia and her son. You have to listen to my advice," Esther said, emphasizing every word. Arthur just smiled a little at Esther's face.
"Okay, mother. For now you better calm yourself down by drinking the water I brought you just now. Besides, did you have a bad dream to call my name like that?"
"Yes, I had a bad dream, even a very bad one. I hope this dream doesn't come true," said Esther after taking a sip of the glass of water.