A ruler's suspicion had always been deadly. I hurriedly knelt down, tears glistening in my eyes. "Mother, everything I've done has been for the sake of keeping relations between our kingdoms. I have no ulterior motives.

"Now that Vee has passed on because of me, I feel such regret that I want to do more for her."

Seeing my sincerity, the others also tried to persuade Mother. "Princess Serena means well. There's no need to be so harsh on her."

Mother had not expected me to respond this way. Her expression darkened, but she had no choice but to watch as I made my arrangements.

I waved my hand, and the mourning troupe immediately began their cacophonous performance with drums. I watched with great interest from the side.

This mourning troupe consisted of beastmen I had hired. They were energetic and could cry and wail for an entire day without stopping. Moreover, they did not fear human royal authority and only cared about the money I paid them.

How would Victoria endure this?

More people continued arriving to pay their respects. The mourning troupe's drums pounded near Victoria's ears repeatedly, each strike loud enough to burst one's eardrums.

From morning until night, Victoria could not eat, drink, or relieve herself. She suffered in agony, occasionally shifting her position slightly.

Mourners came and went constantly, and inevitably, some noticed the movement. They looked puzzled, their investigating gazes sweeping over Victoria again and again.

Mother gritted her teeth, her sharp nails digging into her flesh. Victoria's trembling form caught her peripheral vision, and her gaze grew increasingly cold.

The burial could not be delayed any longer. She had to deal with this quickly!

Just then, Victoria suddenly convulsed.

I cried out in alarm, "Is Vee's soul perhaps restless?"

Mother's heart jumped as she saw that the cloth covering Victoria had clearly changed shape. Everyone around naturally saw the cloth move as well. The crowd immediately erupted in chaos.

Mother angrily scolded me, "Why are you making such a racket? Where's your dignity as a princess?"

I acted as if I had not heard her and just looked at her with tears in my eyes. "Mother, I just heard strange sounds from the coffin. Vee's passing was so sudden. Maybe she has returned to visit us."

Mother's expression darkened as she said coldly, "Nonsense! How can the dead come back to life?"

I was too intimidated by her glare to speak, but Victoria could not bear the pain in her abdomen and quietly moved again.

"She must be reluctant to leave," I murmured softly. "After all, her death was so sudden. It's natural she'd have regrets."

The crowd also found this believable. Mother nodded with an ugly expression and shot me a hateful glance.

I seized the opportunity and volunteered, saying, "I've heard that beastmen are quite knowledgeable about pacifying souls."

Mother said urgently, "I'll find someone. How can those crude beastmen possibly..."

Before she could finish, an elderly relative quickly stopped her.

"Don't! It's so late already. Why create more trouble?" He turned to the beastmen. "Please begin."

The mourners nodded and surrounded Victoria, beginning to chant incantations.

Seeing that it was only chanting, both Mother and the fake-dead Victoria breathed sighs of relief. However, at the next moment, a strong wind began blowing through the funeral hall.

Victoria's coffin was lifted into the air, and the yellow cloth covering her was blown away. Victoria was instantly exposed to everyone's view.