n

n

n

"How's your plan going?

"

nRegina started to relax again, leaning back on the sofa. Her charming black eyes squinted lazily as she smiled sweetly, looking very coquettish.

n

"Oh… It's going incredibly well,

" she purred.

"Soon, my son will be able to get what is rightfully his.

"

nA chuckle escaped her ruby lips, seemingly delighted by what she was thinking. Her whole demeanor screamed wicked, and it added another charm to her.

nHaagenti's eyes bored on her, unmoved by this beautiful picture she created. To him, Regina's beauty is nothing but ordinary. After all, when compared to the demonesses he had encountered, what's beautiful to the human eyes would turn mediocre. If it's beauty, the demon race would top every category.

n

"Won't the emperor be surprised to know that the supposed second prince is still alive? He could doubt you.

"

nWho would know that the rumored dead child was actually alive all this time? The queen had long been planning against the royal family a long time ago and even devised such an intricate plan.

n

"Doubt?

" Regina snorted in amusement.

"He is his own son. No matter what tests they conduct, his blood is of the royal family.

"

nShe slowly swirled the wine on the goblet before bringing it to her lips, staining it more red.

nRegina made sure that her plan doesn't have any loopholes. She would make it look like she had been deceived. Her son was switched out by the people who are against her family and the past royals. These people's purpose was to not let a child with the Ronan blood have a chance to inherit the throne.

nRegina doesn't know any of these, that she's innocent. After all, what mother would send out their own child, right? Plus the fact that she mourned for 'years', locking herself up in her palace.

nIf not the royal family, the citizens would surely believe her.

nRegina sported a cruel smile again, her onyx eyes glinting in mischief.

n

"And even if he doubts me, it would be too late for him anyway.

"

n---**

nWhat day is it today? I had long been unaware of how many days had passed since the ambush. Both my father and brother prohibited me from leaving the mansion, so I stayed in the estate like a good girl, toiling my life away listlessly.

nI wasn't sure if I'm fine because all my current feelings are mixed. I could say that yes, I am perfectly alright. I don't have underlying trauma, probably. I'm still able to spend my days not being sad or something. This was the concern of the others and had been monitoring me like a hawk to observe my state of being.

nIn my opinion, they were being too anxious but I understand them. I mean, I was almost kidnapped or worse, killed. They're probably thinking that I would be too shaken up after I woke up. So that's why the family doctor is back in the mansion to check up on me every day.

nBut I could also say that I'm not because I am not fine at all.

nI would sometimes think back to the time of the ambush and feel like the whole thing is actually inevitable. I knew that there were people who were following me, Lukas said so. So I wasn't that frightened anymore. But I would also admit that at that time, I was deathly scared for my life.

nThere is also this inkling that it had happened before but that would be too stretched out because that was the first time I encountered that scenario. So I could only link it to this body's memory. After all, the original Nadia had been in an accident once which is probably the reason why I felt a strong sense of deja vu. Thus, why I have anxiety now.

nI kept worrying over something that I can't explain. The sense of foreboding is suffocating me! And there's still one concern that is not answered yet.

nKuro is still missing.

nI don't know where the hell he is and what happened to him so whenever I get the time to be immersed in my thoughts, all I could do is worry and worry endlessly. I could still feel the connection therefore I'm sure that he's still alive. It was strange because there was nothing like that before but now, there is this invisible string that links me to him.

nMaybe he's back in the jungle… or in a place where spirits could be. I don't know… I just hope that he's fine and well and that he could come back soon and be my warmer again.

nAh, gosh. Speaking of being warm, I miss the days where I don't wake up in the middle of the night chattering my teeth because of the cold. My father doesn't understand why I am cold when it's not autumn yet. My brother also doesn't understand, nor does my doctor.

nThere is always an active fireplace in my room right now and it's blazing hot, even my maids can't stand how humid my room is. The windows are locked, the balcony is also closed so that the wind can't come in, but still, I feel cold as hell, which is ironic because hell is supposed to be hot.

nThere is this ever-present bone-chilling cold around me. Even if I bundle up and wrap myself in layers of blankets and paddings, it's not enough. I still feel cold.

nAnd it gets worse every day. To the point that I'm starting to think that my blood is actually going to freeze and that maybe I'm dying.

nDid I contract a disease? Do I have a life-threatening sickness somehow? What is going on?

nMy doctor looked frustrated sometimes because he really can't tell what is wrong with me. We have been acquainted a lot lately that I had even memorized all the lines on his face now.

nHe would actively check my pulse, my heartbeat, and even my mental state. There was a time when Nathan was present. He was watching us with knitted eyebrows, looking very attentive. It was as if he was ready to fight someone with that guarded expression of his. It made me giggle, which then brought the attention of him and Doctor Haudie.

nNathaniel frowned and immediately got fussy.

n

"What's so funny? Are you okay?

"

n