Since Heaven Has Given Her a Chance to Live Again
The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through Consort De's chambers. A fine china set lay in pieces on the floor, boiling tea and dark leaves splattering across the expensive rug.
"Fine. Just fine," she seethed, her face tight with fury.
"That venomous woman, the Empress, is doing this on purpose. She loves lording her title over me, shutting me down at every turn. She's just jealous that the Vance family is in the spotlight, so she used that fool Solana to make a scene."
She paced back and forth, a storm brewing inside her.
"And now His Majesty is using this whole incident to put our family in its place."
She whirled to face Blair Vance. "Blair, what did you mean before? When you said that servant, Scrap, would be useful someday?"
Preston Vance, who had been standing by quietly, looked stunned. "Aunt, the guy's a mute slave we bought from The Savage Arena. What could he possibly be useful for?"
Consort De shot him a furious glare. "You shut your mouth. If it weren't for you, Scrap would still be at Vance Manor, and we wouldn't have angered His Majesty today. From now on, you will behave yourself and stop provoking Princess Solana. If I hear you've stirred up more trouble for this family,
don't expect me to remember you're my nephew."
Preston shrank back, not daring to argue. "Yes, Aunt," he mumbled. "I'll remember."
He was seething inside, though. He hadn't taken that beating for nothing, that runaway slave was clearly at Ashworth Manor. This was all just the Emperor's blatant favoritism.
Consort De ignored him, turning back to her niece.
"His Majesty didn't punish your brother today, and that's likely because you saved his life at the Royal Hunt. Otherwise, showing up with armed men to fight the guards at Ashworth Manor? The Imperial Court would have had the entire Vance family impeached, no questions asked."
Blair lowered her head as the image of Princess Solana throwing a tantrum in front of the Emperor and Empress flashed through her mind.
In her past life, it was Solana who had taken that arrow for the Emperor.
And it was Blair herself who had been kicked by a donkey and lost her memory.
For her heroism, Solana had been showered with favor and even given a Medallion of Imperial Pardon.
Meanwhile, Blair, her memory gone, had forgotten the man she truly loved and foolishly married that hypocrite from the Kane family.
But a fortnight ago, at the Royal Hunt, she had lured Solana to the path with the crazed donkey. This time, *she* was the one who saved the Emperor.
Her reward? The title of Countess.
And yet, the amnesiac Solana was *still* living a charmed life, still showered with favor.
Bitterness coiled in her gut. Heaven had given her a second chance, so why was that useless princess still getting everything so easily?
No, she wouldn't just accept it. She would make every single person who wronged her in her past life pay, twice over.
"Blair, what's wrong?" Consort De asked, frowning. The girl had kept her head down ever since walking in and still hadn't answered her questions. "Did the Emperor frighten you?"
Blair slowly looked up, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Aunt. I was just thinking about something and got lost in thought. What did you say?"
Consort De glanced at Preston, paused for a moment, then sent him back to Vance Manor.
After he was gone, she asked again, "Blair, what use could that Scrap boy possibly have?"
Blair lowered her gaze, hiding the calculation in her eyes.
"I'm not sure myself; it's just a feeling. Aunt, you know my premonitions have been right so far. Scrap was originally our family's servant. I think we should ask for him back from Ashworth Manor and treat him well from now on. If he really has potential,
he could become a valuable asset for your son."
She remembered it clearly from her past life.
The servant named Scrap had escaped from her younger brother, and when they met again years later, he had become a celebrated general under Patton, a man whose very name made enemies tremble.
His military victories were legendary. Even the Emperor favored him, showering him with constant rewards.
If only her brother had treated him well instead of humiliating him, the Vance family might not have fallen so far.
Hearing that he could be an asset to her son, Consort De's expression grew anxious. "But he's in Princess Solana's hands now. I'm afraid we'll have to get your brother involved, and you know how much he despises her..."
"Aunt, even if he's unwilling, he'll do it for your son. I'm sure he can find a way to get Scrap back."
"That's a lot to ask of your brother," Consort De said, looking pleased. But then she frowned. "They say Princess Solana has lost her memory, though. She couldn't have forgotten him completely, could she?"
Blair wasn't so sure about that herself, but she sounded confident. "Princess Solana likes my brother so much. I doubt she'll be able to forget him once she sees him again."
In her past life, after losing her memory, she really *had* forgotten her love for General Patton.
But years later, when he returned from the border and she saw him again, she couldn't help but feel something, even though she was already married.
The feelings she once had came rushing back, and her memories returned in an instant.
With a plan in place for Scrap, Consort De finally seemed to relax. But the thought of how she had angered the Emperor made her chest tighten again.
She said indignantly, "As long as the Crown Prince is alive, the Empress's place in His Majesty's heart will never be shaken."
"Aunt, be careful. The walls have ears."
Blair glanced around. Fortunately, they were surrounded only by her aunt's most trusted servants.
She leaned closer. "The Crown Prince has been frail since he was a child. I heard Father say the imperial physician once predicted he wouldn't live long. Instead of focusing on the Empress, maybe you should be thinking about other things..."
She pulled back, remembering. In her past life, the Crown Prince died from his illness three years from now.
The Empress, lost in her grief, followed him to the grave soon after.
The Crown Princess sent their young son, the Little Imperial Grandson, to be raised in the palace by the Emperor.
But the child had barely spoken a word since birth.
He locked himself in his room and refused to interact with anyone, so nobody paid him any mind.
Who could have known that after the Emperor passed, the one who eventually took the throne was that same quiet grandson everyone had ignored?
Blair looked at Consort De, her tone casual, as if making small talk. "The Crown Prince's health may be poor, but at least they have a healthy Little Imperial Grandson."
Consort De froze, her finger hovering over her teacup. Then she frowned, her voice dripping with disdain. "That child? He has that strange condition, silent all day like a block of wood. What good is he?"
"Maybe he'll be fine once he's older?" Blair asked calmly.
That simple question made Consort De's expression darken. She stared at the pillars outside the hall for a long time, a shadow slowly creeping into her eyes.
Yes. No matter how small a threat seemed, if it was allowed to grow, it could become fatal.
As the thought took hold, a cold ruthlessness settled in her gaze.