Chapter 3 The Poison that Killed the Love

After a month, she cheerfully approached her husband who came from the expedition. She attended him and served him well so he could relax after his long trip. Maybe because of it, he even fell asleep right after bath.

She came back to her personal room during the night and after bath, she found herself reading a book because she could not sleep. While reading, she could not understand everything as her mind was somewhere else. She is still thinking if she is going to tell her husband about her pregnancy. She really wanted to surprise him about it however, she is afraid of seeing a reaction she would not expect. She is nervous about how he would react about it. Was their five years of marriage sufficient enough to tell that they are harmonious with love?

Love. With that thought of that, Emperor Darya stopped reading after hearing knocks on the door of her room.

"It is me, your majesty."

Hearing her husband's voice, she immediately replied, "Come in."

The door was opened and there she saw the smiling face of her husband. He was almost unrecognizable because he looked strikingly handsome with that genuine smile. She closed the book even though she had not flipped another page.

"I hope I have not disturbed your majesty's leisure time."

"It is alright since it is my husband."

Her husband chuckled and again, her heart wavered. This man surely would not make her heart stop beating around him. Duke Esteban walks towards her to kiss her forehead.

"I feel bad for sleeping before you, your majesty."

"No worries. I knew you were tired. Have you had a good sleep?"

"It is thanks to your majesty." He beamed as he went to the opposite chair in front of her. So then, a maid served a cup of tea and a teapot on the table between them.

"During my expedition, I discovered a very good drink perfect for your majesty." Duke Esteban talked after taking the teapot and putting this brownish drink on the cup.

"Recently, I observed that you would sleep late at night, your majesty. I was worried that you will be diagnosed with an illness related to it. This is a herb from Summeria and it cures insomnia, your majesty."

She nodded while looking at the tea he served. She smiled with the thought of him being worried about her but she had this instinct to not drink it. However, if her husband is planning something, she needs to play with his hands in order to know what his purpose really is. She would not die just because of a drink right? She had never heard of a drink that could cause death so this will be alright.

"I am so thankful to have finally found a cure to this appalling illness, Esteban. Thank you. I will drink it well." She took the cup of tea and drank it, slowly down to her throat.

When she was done, she breathed out and looked at her husband, beaming. "It tastes good."

"I'm glad it is to your liking, your majesty." He smiled genuinely.

That very moment, he looked at his smile and asked herself if that was just a façade? Yes, it might have been a façade because she knows very well that all these years... she had loved him dearly but ... never did she feel the same love from him.

"I am feeling sleepy, Esteban." She told him. He stood up and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently and covered her with a blanket.

"Good night, your majesty." He kissed her forehead. When he was about to leave, he stopped after hearing her words.

"Have you ever loved me?"

There was silence there. While feeling painfully drowsy, Emperor Darya finally regretted trusting Duke Esteban. She had finally regretted drinking the tea as she could feel the excruciating pain she could feel throughout her body. It was so painful yet she managed to not shed tears in order to keep her sanity and tell him the things she had always wanted to ask him.

"Have you ever liked this marriage since the beginning?"

"Were your smiles and laughter genuine?"

Once again, she paused as she tried her best to move her hand to touch her abdomen. There her tears fell down from her eyes.

"I love you, Esteban, but why... why would you..." Those were her last words before she finally stopped breathing.

After hearing the complete silence from Emperor Darya, Duke Esteban clenched his fist before turning to see her pale body. He walked closer to her dead body to wipe the remaining tears on her face. So then, his cold eyes turned gentle.

This is the best way, your majesty.

"My lady!"

Amara woke up with the continuous shaking her personal maid did. She breathed out heavily, shocked at what just happened. She feels like her soul was being pulled out somewhere.

"I'm glad you woke up, my lady!" The maid suddenly hugged her. "I am so worried!"

She was still confused about who this maid is. Is it a new palace maid? The last time she knew was... she drank a poison... Her eyes widened as she looked at her surroundings and saw an unfamiliar room.

"My lady?"

She immediately stood up to look for a mirror and there, her world crumbled down upon seeing an unfamiliar appearance. It was a young lady who had long brown hair and green eyes. She looked pale and her body was so light and thin.

"Who is the current Emperor?" She asked after having some realization.

The maid was so confused about her lady's behaviour but she answered her question. "It is his majesty, Emperor Esteban, my lady."

She stood there, petrified.

A month had passed since she woke up in a different body. She is thinking deeply to figure out what might have happened to her. She had also thought that the tea she drank might be the reason why she had transmigrated to a new body but considering that the Imperial family is not looking for her, she had simply died as an Emperor and a miracle happened. She found out that five years has already passed since Emperor Darya unfortunately died due to an "unknown disease". Based on the public, the Emperor died in her sleep without last words which is why her husband, Duke Esteban, was nominated as the next Emperor.