I'm the disregarded bastard daughter of the Hayes Clan.

Abandoned in the back annex by the Principal Wife for a long sixteen years!

That fateful day, a group of governesses stormed in, knocking my dear brother unconscious and dragging him away.

I was utterly beside myself, screaming and pleading on my knees before the Principal Wife.

She pinched her nose as if I stank, cruelly stepping on my slender fingers.

"Just play nice and bear an heir for the queen, and I'll ensure your brother is listed as a rightful heir in the main lineage! Otherwise... his survival through this winter is on you!"

The agony was so sharp I could barely catch my breath; all I could do was nod in desperation.

Yes, my mother too never saw the end of that harsh winter.

This deep-seated hatred is all that sustains me...

***

My legitimate sister, the Queen, summoned me to the palace ostensibly as her companion but quickly showed her true colors behind closed doors.

"Get this straight, Jennifer— you're just a surrogate. Step out of line, and you'll wish you hadn't," she threatened with a venomous tone.

Facing her daunting presence, I meekly complied.

That night, Nanny Adams scrubbed me in the tub until my skin turned a painful red before she let me out.

Nanny Adams, a loyal servant to my sister, covers all her sinister deeds.

Post-scrubbing, I was left in a simple slip, hidden behind a screen adjacent to the royal bed.

As she left, Nanny Adams hissed a stern warning: no sounds, no marks—make sure the king suspects nothing.

Tucked away behind the screen, I watched moon shadows dance on the glass, wondering about my brother-in-law, the king.

Samuel Tully, although the eldest, was never King Robb's favored son. My sister had been smitten with him long before her coronation, giddy with joy on the day she was chosen for the palace, even tossing me and my brother a bone.

It baffled me, her desperation to ascend to queen yet requiring me to carry her child.

Such treason could doom us all to the gallows.

If not for my brother, I'd be tempted to take her and the entire household down to hell with me tonight!

I stretched out a hand towards the screen, but at that moment, the chamber door swung open.

The sound of steady footsteps and subdued chuckles filled the air; I quickly withdrew my hand, holding my breath.

"Your Majesty, shall I assist with your preparations?" my sister cooed sycophantically.

"Unnecessary—I'll manage," came the confident reply.

Her voice trailed off to the adjoining room as she commanded the servants to douse all candles and dismissed them, leaving only Nanny Adams at the door.

Approaching the screen, my sister pinched my arm and shoved me onto the bed, whispering fiercely, "Don't you dare mess this up!"

She glared at me menacingly before slipping away quietly.

When the king emerged, the room was awash in the soft flutter of drapes and the eerie glow of moonlight.

"The queen does surprise me tonight," he murmured as he approached.

I lowered my gaze, waiting.

He extended his arms naturally, and I helped him shed his belt, layer by layer, revealing his royal attire beneath.

Clad only in his undergarments, he drew me close, "What's with the silence tonight, love?"

Anxiety gripped me—my voice bore no resemblance to my sister's. Speaking out would surely blow my cover, but silence would raise suspicions.

Resolutely, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself up to meet his lips.

His body tensed in surprise, then relaxed as his breath heated, pressing me firmly onto the expansive bed.

He wasn't one to prolong the inevitable, drifting to sleep almost as soon as the deed was done.

I waited several tense moments to ensure he was deeply asleep before cautiously getting up to switch places with my sister.

The glare she shot me as she took over was filled with envy that the night could not hide.

I made my way unnoticed back to the side chamber prepared for me by my sister but found sleep elusive.

Nanny Adams arrived in the dead of night, likely having waited for the change of the night watch to avoid detection.

She produced a bowl of some dark, thick potion from her food box, making sure I drank it all before she left.

King Samuel didn't visit every night, but I was always alerted beforehand on the nights he would. Thus, I wasn't constantly on duty.

Though not nightly, my duties to serve my sister were daily.

Any slight displeasure on her part led to severe punishment.

She took care not to leave marks, but the palace had myriad ways to torment without a trace.

Needles, wood torture, waterboarding... each method more excruciating than the last.

After enduring a particularly brutal water torture, my sister clenched my jaw, "Pray you conceive with the king's seed on your first try, or you'll endure much worse."

She released me, and I collapsed, gasping and coughing up water, my chest aflame with burning pain.

Two weeks later, King Samuel visited again.

My sister swapped me in once more, but this time, Samuel's spirits seemed low.

When I reached to loosen his belt, he stopped me, gripping my hand and guiding me to sit beside him on the bed.

After a lengthy silence, curiosity got the best of me and I looked up at him.

My brother and I had honed a unique skill from our days in seclusion—we could see better in the dark than most.

Under the moon's glow, his features were drawn tight, his eyes shadowed with fatigue, his profile strikingly noble.

Truly a vision, no wonder my sister was so taken with him.

I gently caught his hand, and as he turned to face me, I softly pressed my fingers to his brow, smoothing away the creases.

He remained still, seemingly relishing the calm.

Eventually, he lowered my hands and clasped them warmly in his.

"If all the ladies of this court were as comforting as you, my life would be easier," he murmured wistfully.

I stayed silent, merely sighing softly as I snuggled closer to him.

Soon, his hands began to wander, and reciprocating his advances, I finally loosened his belt.

This time, he took his time, savoring moments before we delved deeper.

The night took its toll on me; by the time he fell asleep, I was nearly overcome by fatigue. Thankfully, I awoke just in time.

Yet, despite my exhaustion, the next day my sister subjected me to a needle torture session as punishment.

They strapped me to a chair, shoved a cloth in my mouth, and proceeded to stab the tips of my toes with long needles.

The needles slid beneath my nails, severing the tender flesh that held them, twisting painfully deeper.

In no time, my face blanched, my body drenched in a cold sweat.

Afterward, Nanny Adams brought me a basin of salted water to soak my feet, to stave off infection.

My sister seemed pleased with my weakened state, her face losing its usual scowl.

"Jennifer, you were born unlucky, just like your mother. And you think you can charm the King? You're merely a stand-in. Any affection he shows is meant for me," she said with a smirk.

I didn't respond, though a part of me wanted to laugh.

If she was so sure, why did she always act as if I might steal her husband?

As soon as I had enough strength, I knelt before her, proposing I mimic her more closely.

"Sister, my brother's life is in your mother's hands. How could I betray you? But if I continue to ignore His Majesty, he might grow suspicious," I argued.

She kicked me squarely in the chest. "How long do you plan to play this game? You better conceive soon, you harlot," she snapped.

I pressed my lips tightly together—conceiving wasn't something I could simply will to happen.

Nanny Adams intervened swiftly, pulling her aside and whispering urgently in her ear, after which my sister calmed down and reluctantly agreed to let me practice her voice.

With the Dowager Queen's birthday fast approaching, my sister was busier than ever, seldom in her chambers.

Seizing a moment of rare freedom, I decided to explore the Phoenix Wing grounds.

Although I wasn't allowed outside the Phoenix Wing, my sister had a maid shadow me whenever she was away.

I wandered to the front courtyard, drawn to a towering apple tree near the palace gates.

I smiled and asked the maid, "May I climb the tree?"

The maid bowed slightly, remaining silent, which I took as consent.

I climbed eagerly, gripping the thick trunk until I reached a sturdy branch.

My forehead was slick with sweat.

What a view from up here!

I dabbed at the sweat on my brow, plucked a few apple blossoms, and stashed them in my pouch.

The blossoms were in full fiery bloom, a sight to behold.

I leaned back against the trunk, letting the dappled sunlight warm my face, and squinted in contentment.

Could this be what they call a stolen moment of serenity?

Utter bliss!

I closed my eyes, feigning sleep, reveling in the brief respite.

"Who goes there?"

A sharp call jolted me, and I lost my balance, tumbling from the tree.

"Someone help her!"

A commanding voice came from beyond the walls, and the gates of Phoenix Wing swung open at once.

Sitting on the ground, cradling my throbbing leg, I found myself face-to-face with King Samuel for the first time.

His presence was magnified by his golden royal robes, adding to his already formidable stature.

He rushed over, his brow furrowed in concern, and immediately called for his physician.

As I tried to kneel, he gently held me down, "You're hurt—no need to move."

Head bowed, I rushed out an apology, "Your Majesty, I've alarmed you. I deserve punishment."

He didn't reply directly but instead inquired, "You are the Queen's half-sister, correct?"

I nodded, and he asked further, "What were you doing so high up in that tree?"

Ashamed, I lowered my gaze even more, "Forgive me, Your Majesty, I've always been a bit wild, sunning myself up in the trees."

He chuckled softly, "You certainly don't have the Queen's poise. Next time, don't climb so high—it's dangerous."

I whispered a quiet agreement.

Just then, the physician arrived in a hurry, allowing the King to step aside.

After examining my leg through a cloth, the physician concluded it was merely sprained, not broken, and prescribed a bruise ointment before departing.

By the time my sister returned in a flurry, the King had already left.

She burst into my room, landing a fierce slap across my face.

"You lowly wretch, what vile tricks are you playing at? Daring to entice the King—are you mad?"

I burst into tears, shaking my head desperately, "Your Majesty, I did nothing wrong! I followed your orders, and never left the palace. I was just sunbathing in the tree—I never expected the King to come by here!"

"Still lying," she slapped me again, her anger flaring. "The King passes by here every morning after court. How can you claim ignorance?"

Stunned, I looked up at her, my eyes filled with confusion, "Your Majesty, it's my first time here. Today was the first time I ever left your side."

She paused, taken aback by my reminder. It dawned on her that in her palace, I couldn't have known about the King's routines, nor would she discuss such matters in front of me.

Despite this revelation, her demeanor remained unforgiving.

She scoffed and continued to scold me, "Jennifer, remember, you were born to a nobody; the King is out of your league."

I quickly bowed, submitting to her words.

That subdued her for the moment, and she strode away with an air of superiority.

Before leaving, she turned back to the maid following me, "From now on, keep her within the sleeping quarters."

I bit my lip, trying to appear indifferent, yet the pain in my leg made me silently weep.