"How are you, Jacinta?" The eldest, Princess Judea, asked gently.
"The doctor said you'll be alright now," added Judith, the fourth imperial princess.
"I'm doing well." Jacinta smiled at them. "Please, take your seats."
They sat down in the available chairs next to her.
"Some people said they saw you outside this morning," Judea said, concern lacing her voice. "Even if the doctor declared you completely healed, you shouldn't push yourself too much."
Jacinta returned her worried gaze with a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. I just went to the library to read a few books. After being confined to my room for months, I needed a change of scenery."
"Instead of the library, you should've visited my room," Judith interjected with a huff. "The maids and servants have been unbearable lately. They're whispering that once the crown prince returns, we're doomed. What did we ever do to deserve that?"
Jacinta shifted my gaze toward the sprawling city beyond the window. "Nothing."
"Exactly!" Judith slammed her hand on the table in frustration. "We've barely interacted with them outside of the occasional party. We've never wronged or bullied anyone! So why does it feel like the whole world is against us?"
"Because we were born to the current empress," she murmured.
Jacinta's sisters fell silent, their eyes fixed on her. 'They didn't know the truth — not yet.' But she was aware that they had inkling on all the evil deeds that the empress already done.
It was their own mother who poisoned the first empress. She ordered assassins to kill the crown prince and his sister multiple times, sending them to war in the hope they wouldn't return. And soon, for those very crimes, the second empress — their mother — would face the chopping block.
'And we, her children, would share her fate.'
Jacinta sighed inside her mind.
Judea had turned 21 this year, Jacinta was 20, and Judith was 18. Our half-siblings, the twins, would have also been 21.
"Where's Joaquin?"
Joaquin Ryzeftine, the second prince and their youngest brother. He would turn 16 years old after six months this year. Also the legal age of this world.
"As usual, the witch is being overprotective of him, worrying that he might catch whatever illness you had," Judith scoffed, disgust evident in her voice.
"Shh! What if Mother hears you?" Judea whispered urgently, covering her mouth. "She's still our mother."
"She only cares about the throne and that special boy," Judith retorted, crossing her arms.
"She's right about that, Judea." Jacinta smiled faintly. "There's nothing wrong with what she said."
"Mother might beat you if she heard you speak like this."
Only Judea and Joaquin still held onto the idea of the Empress as their mother, perhaps because she was the firstborn and Joaquin was with the Empress most of the time.
"Let her," Judith said firmly. "I will never forgive her for what she did to Nanny Giselda."
Nanny Giselda had once been a part of their lives — gentle and kind, though strict when needed. To them, she was more of a parent than the Empress and Emperor ever were. Without her, they might have grown into children blinded by the desperate need for approval from parents who never once spared them a glance.
But the Empress, their biological mother, only ever sought power. And to her, they were nothing but disposable pawns.
The Emperor was no better. He hated the Empress, and by extension, them. His affection was reserved for the twins — the protagonists of this empire's story.
When the Empress noticed how much the four of them adored Nanny Giselda, her jealousy burned. She couldn't stand being second in their hearts and dismissed her without hesitation. Almost every servant in the palace was now her pawn, her eyes and ears. Only their personal maids, the few they had carefully chosen, remained loyal. 'It's really ironic, what is she even jealous of when she has never been a good mother?'
Judith had been devastated when Giselda left. She threw a fit, begging for her return. But their cries were ignored. Even their appeal to the Emperor was met with nothing but scorn.
"Please don't let the Empress send Nanny Giselda away, she is being framed!" Judith begged.
"What more could you possibly want? You already have everything, while your older brother and sister are sent to war!" The emperor's words dropped. They felt it...
His words were laced with disgust and hatred.
"Then don't send them! You agreed with the Empress, yet you blame us?!" Judith had shouted back, her voice shaking with fury.
The only response she received was the sting of the Emperor's hand. He slapped her without hesitation.
Before things escalated... "We apologize your majesty, we will take our leave now." Judea completely shaken as well, pulled Judith behind and bowed down. Then they immediately turned their backs and left before things could escalate to something worse.
Jacinta sighed at the memory. Five years had passed, but the weight of it still lingered. She looked back to see the expression of the emperor, hoping that maybe she would see a little regret for slapping Judith back then.
Not at all. His face remained cold and unbothered.
"Joaquin couldn't come, but he wanted you to have this." Judea pulled a delicate paper crane from her sleeve. "He prayed for your recovery. This is already the 651st crane."
She carefully took the crane, a small warmth spreading in her chest. Their nanny had taught them this — to fold a paper crane when they wished for something. Joaquin had faithfully sent one every day since she had fallen ill, either through his maids or their sisters.
Now that Jacinta thought of it, paper cranes... There was also something like this in her past life.
"I'll visit him when I'm fully rested," she murmured, imagining how lonely he must be under the Empress' watchful eye.
"No. We'll visit him together," Judea said, a reassuring smile lighting her face.
"That mama's boy is probably crying right now," Judith snorted, rolling her eyes.
Jacinta laughed softly at her teasing. "Those words, I shall report it to him.".
"No need. I always tell him that whenever we meet."
"You should control that mouth of yours, Judith. It can put you on the spot if you're not careful." Judea shook her head.
"Then I'll just deal with it head on when the time comes." Judith huffed.
'Moments like these made me wish we weren't born into royalty. Life would've been so much happier.' But as the laughter faded, so did Jacinta's smile.
"But you both know," Jacinta murmured, "out of all of us, he's the one suffering the most."
The room fell silent.
"That's why we're here for him," Judith finally said, a determined grin on her face. "So rest quickly, so we can be together again."
Jacinta nodded, their warmth easing the heaviness in my heart. "Yes."
"I have something to give you too."
Just then, the door opened once more.
"Your Highness, your breakfast is here," Edina, Jacinta's personal maid, announced as she entered, pushing a tray of food.
She paused upon noticing Judea and Judith. "Greetings, Princess Judea and Princess Judith." She gave a polite bow.
"Perfect timing, Edina. Please hand me the two envelopes from the drawer," Jacinta requested.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Edina moved to the small drawer beside Jacinta's bed, pulling open the top compartment. As instructed, she retrieved two neatly sealed white envelopes and handed them to Jacinta with both hands.
"Thank you, Edina."
"You're welcome, Your Highness. I'll prepare your meal now."
"Go ahead."
Judith's curiosity was immediately piqued as she eyed the envelopes. "What are those, Jacinta?"
Jacinta traced the edge of the envelopes with her fingers, her expression unreadable.
"My last will."
Both of her sisters slammed the table.
"Hey don't joke something like that!" Judith yelled.
"You silly lass!" Judea poked Jacinta's forehead with her fan.
Both of them completely shaken...
"Hahaha!" Jacinta bursted out of laughing.
"It's not funny." Judea rolled her eyes.
"I'll be the one to kill you, if you joke something like that again." Judith crossed both her arms in anger.
"Right. Right. You too are so serious since you entered my room." Jacinta finally calmed down which earned her another eye roll from her sisters. "Kidding aside, you see, during the times I wasn't feeling well... I gained something, too."
The twins exchanged confused glances.
"Gain what?" Judith asked, her brows furrowing. "You lost a lot of weight, Jacinta. What are you talking about?"
Jacinta laughed softly. "Not like that."
She grew serious, her voice lowering. "It's not the right time to explain everything. Read these letters once you're back in your rooms — and promise me, don't show them to anyone. After reading, burn them immediately. When the time comes and what's written happens, we'll talk again."
Judith's frown deepened. "What's in these letters? Is it that serious?"
Jacinta met her gaze, a small, reassuring smile tugging at her lips. "Yes." She reached out, gently holding both of their hands. "While I was sick, I had a lot of time to think. Judea, Judith, and Joaquin too, I realized what I truly want — to live a little longer, surrounded by the people I love this time."
Judea's face softened with concern, "What a thing to say, Jacinta. Of course, we'll be together for a long time."
Judith grinned, squeezing Jacinta's hand. "We'll live long enough to see each other's grandchildren."