The Imperial Councilor once prophesied that the Chancellor would have a daughter capable of foreseeing the future. I was born with a lotus flower on my forehead, while my younger sister liked to draw flowers there. An imperial decree betrothed my sister as the Crown Prince's bride, while I, according to my own wish, married Prince Peter. For the next five years, I used my power of foresight to help Peter Carter ascend to the throne. On the night of his coronation, I wiped away my makeup and told Peter about the lotus flower on my forehead. Yet he flew into a rage, carved the flesh from my forehead, and had me torn apart. "Bella Jones, how dare you imitate Karen?" "If you hadn't chosen me first, how would she have been bestowed in marriage to Lucas? I want her to be my true empress!" "For every moment of intimacy with you over these five years, I felt nothing but disgust. You will pay for this with your life." When I opened my eyes again, Peter burst in and interrupted Councilor Jack. "How can a mere flower decide that Karen is the god-favored woman?" "I'd like to use the blank imperial decree Your Majesty bestowed years ago, to marry the Chancellor's second daughter, Karen Jones!" Everyone went silent for a moment. They looked at each other and didn't know what to say. The Imperial Councilor still wished to speak, but I stopped him with a glance. That imperial decree was a reward from many years ago, granted after Peter Carter's mother died saving the Emperor. I never expected he would use it here. In my previous life, even with my help, he relied on that decree to ascend the throne legitimately. I never imagined he would go this far for Karen. The Empress was delighted he used it early, sparing future trouble. "Bella Jones, what do you think?" "That His Highness favors my sister is an absolute honor to our family." I bowed respectfully. Peter looked at me, and his gaze seemed really complicated. And it was resolute too. "This has nothing to do with coveting Lucas's position as Crown Prince. It is simply that Karen and I are deeply in love. She is only a second daughter and cannot bear such an exalted fate. Mother Empress, please grant us your blessing." The Empress pondered for a long while before speaking. "But the entire capital knows the one you grew up with was Bella. And now you..." Peter hurriedly explained. "I only regarded her as a younger sister. Didn't know people would misunderstand us." I sneered to myself. Younger sister, huh? Crown Prince Lucas was surrounded by a powerful royal aura, the so-called "King Aura". Without my support, Peter would never be able to beat Lucas. Since he had staked everything on my concubine-born sister, I'd just grant his wish. Just as I exited the great hall, Peter's attendant stopped me. "Lady Bella, please wait. Prince Peter requests your presence." I was led to a corner tower where there was nothing else but tea. I didn't know what I could do so I drank the tea, one cup after another, before Peter showed up. By the time my bladder was about to burst, Peter finally arrived, his face icy. "When Karen begged you for help back then, this was how you treated her. Does it feel good?" In the previous life, the army could not be delayed, so I stopped her. He won a great victory, and harbored resentment against me for it. "I know you've reincarnated too, Bella." "Though you're vicious and jealous, we were husband and wife after all. I can totally give you a way out. If you still love me, after I marry Karen, I can take you in as a concubine." I set the teacup down heavily on the table. "We should just take separate ways. Do you understand?" "If vengeance is to be sought, it should be me coming after you, not the other way around. Since you're betrothed, the more distance we keep, the better." "I will request to go to Mercy Temple to pray for a year, just to avoid you." Peter Carter did not look pleased by my good sense. His expression darkened further. I stepped past him to leave, but he grabbed me. "My killing you was an overreaction. But if you hadn't imitated Karen by painting a flower on your forehead, how would I have lost it?" "As long as you behave yourself this time, I can keep you alive. We once shared tender moments, remember? If you don't fight for any higher position, just be an obedient consort..." I took a deep breath and cut him off. "I said separate ways! I will never be a concubine!" No sooner had I returned to the residence than the imperial decree arrived. My father, beaming with pride, pushed me forward. "Well? Hurry and receive the decree!" Before I could explain, the eunuch said, "Chancellor Ted, it's not for her. It's for your second daughter, the concubine-born one."
The imperial decree, already eye-catching as it made its way from the palace gate, was further amplified by Peter's influence. In one night, our family became the center of attention. For years, it had been me, the first daughter of Chancellor Ted, seen accompanying Peter, yet the one getting married to him was the second daughter, Karen. I became the target of ridicule among the common folk. "Could it be that Bella had been the one chasing Prince Peter all along?" "How could the virtuous Chancellor have such a daughter? His first daughter acts like a courtesan. No wonder she couldn't win the favor of Prince Peter." The next morning, Peter arrived early, bringing ten carriages of extravagant gifts to our residence. This further confirmed his affection for Karen. My father, his face full of worry, looked at me as I practiced calligraphy. "Bella, though I don't know what's happened between you and the prince, public opinion is now turning against you. Would you like to leave the capital to avoid the storm? To clear your mind?" I put down the brush in my hand and said, "I had thought about retreating to the Mercy Temple, but there's no escaping this now." My father sighed deeply. "It's my fault. I should never have brought Karen back..." Before he could finish, Karen pushed the door open and entered. "When I was a child, you favored her and sent me to live with relatives at the border. And now Prince Peter is coming for me. Do you wanna take this away from me too?" Father was silent for a moment. Karen grew more excited. "I'll show you that even though I'm not as noble as Bella, I'm the daughter you should be proud of!" She stormed off in a huff, and my father, afraid of something bad happening, sent people to follow her. Later they reported that she went to Prince Peter's residence. I tried to calm Father down. "Father, there's something more important that needs your attention. There's gonna be a major earthquake in Pakitown. You should prepare early." Father froze for a moment. "I'll go to the palace now." I stopped him. "Prince Peter will prepare for this. You should just focus on the follow-up work." Father was uncertain but chose to trust me. If Peter wanted to seize the throne, he wouldn't miss such a good opportunity to win the people over. But I didn't expect that he would let Karen have the credit. Soon, rumors spread that Karen could predict the future and was the true god-favored woman. The Imperial Councilor's prophecy was brought up again, and with the wedding date approaching, she truly had the spotlight. When mentioning me, all the common folk would just shake their heads. "Bella Jones? She really doesn't deserve the title of the noblest girl in the capital." "Totally. She's indeed very beautiful, graceful, and talented. However, her incredible sister has now completely outshone her." At that time, Karen cornered me in the study and stopped me from writing. "Bella, I'm gonna be the Empress this time. So what if you're the true god-favored woman? Since I have the memories, I can predict things too." "You had such a talent. Why did you keep it a secret? Since you don't want fame and fortune, I'll take them for you." I smiled and looked at her. "You think Peter was the reason why I became the Empress? You've got things backward." She raised her hand to slap me. "You're really full of yourself!" I grabbed her hand and threw it off, but just then, Peter walked in and saw what had happened. He immediately shielded Karen in his arms. "Bella, I warn you! If you harm Karen again, you don't even get to be my concubine!"
I watched as he gently comforted Karen, but turned around to lash out at me. "Bella, weren't you called the noblest girl in the capital? Now you're clearly a jealous and vicious woman!" But just last month, during our boat ride, he had whispered sweet words beside me. "Bella, you're so graceful and peerless, I want to hide you away so only I can have you." Seeing my eyes redden, Peter didn't want Karen to be scared. So he immediately ordered for her to be taken away. "It was because you couldn't accept Karen that caused our rift in the previous life. Why do you have to make the same mistake now?" I held back my tears and said, "Why should I accept her? You know full well her background. Her existence is a disgrace to our family. We've only kept her because my father couldn't bring himself to throw her out!" Karen's father had been nothing but a thug. He had raped my mother, resulting in Karen's birth. My mother had passed away in sorrow because of that. But my father, recalling that she was still my mother's blood, couldn't bear to expel her, let alone kill her. Suddenly, Peter furiously grabbed my throat and whispered angrily, "She was just a child! Totally innocent! If you don't keep this to yourself, I have a thousand ways to make you unable to speak!" My breathing became labored, and Peter finally released his grip. "Guards! Bella wishes to go to the Mercy Temple for a month to pray for her sister Karen. Take her there!" The common people along the streets weren't fools. They began to speculate on what had really happened. I was kept under house arrest in the temple, unaware of the rumors spreading outside. Meanwhile, Karen spread the word that I was jealous of her and tried to harm her, only to be caught by Peter. The people started praising her for predicting the earthquake and saving many citizens. The day I left the temple and returned home, a crowd was waiting outside the gates. They threw rotten vegetables and eggs at me. Just then, someone appeared in front of me and pushed the crowd back. "Stop it! She's here only because she wanted to pray for her sister, my wife! These rumors are truly unfounded!" I looked at the tall figure in front of me, and my nose tingled with emotion. In the previous life, when we fought together on the battlefield, he would always shield me like this, but things had changed. Yet, as he protected me while I got into the carriage and sent me back home, it seemed like nothing had changed. "Ahem, the reason I'm defending you today is not for any other reason. I just thought it was wrong to forcibly send you to the temple back then." I lowered my head, sniffing. "I understand." Father rushed back from the outskirts of the city. "I was only away dealing with the disaster. How did this..." Father hugged me tightly and looked back at Peter. "Our residence is too small to accommodate you and your future princess. After your wedding next month, please don't come to us again." Peter opened his mouth, but it was a long while before he finally spoke softly. "After the wedding, I will come to discuss with you about making Bella my concubine." Father's face turned red with anger, and he picked up a broom to hit him. But a man who had just arrived stopped him. "How can you behave this way? The Chancellor has served the king and people loyally for his whole life. You've broken your promise and are marrying someone else, but now you want his first daughter to be your concubine? You're literally insulting them!" It was Lucas Carter, the crown prince. He ordered his men to escort Prince Peter back to his residence. He then returned with us to our house. When I was in my room getting dressed, I removed the leafy cover from my forehead, revealing the birthmark that had been hidden. Returning to the main hall, I heard Lucas's words. "If you don't mind, I'd like to offer the entire kingdom as my dowry and ask Lady Bella to be my princess." Father hesitated for a moment, and I pushed the door open. "I am honored by Your Highness's affection, and I am willing." In the previous life, it was because I chose Peter, defying fate, that all the disasters followed. They thought that by reliving this life, they could manage fate through their memories. What a joke. I bowed slightly to Lucas. "Your Highness must have your own reasons for choosing me, but all I ask is for you to protect my father and me, and ensure our safety for a lifetime." "As a sign of sincerity, if Prince Peter makes any bold moves, I will assist Your Highness in resisting him."
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