My best friend and I caught the eye of the celestial princes and were brought into the heavenly palace as their consorts.

She became the caged golden canary of the Crown Prince, Rudolf Frost, while I became the stand-in for the lost love of the Second Prince, Mose Frost.

As fate would have it, their lost loves were one and the same person.

Everyone in the Celestial Realm envied us, two mortal women chosen by celestial princes to live a life of luxury among the gods.

But this blissful existence lasted no more than three years before their true love returned, and our good fortune came to an abrupt end.

"I'll fake my death first, and then you'll pretend to fall ill and do the same!" whispered my friend, Gabriela Simon.

I nodded, and together we staged our deaths to escape back to the mortal realm.

When their lost love, Anna Rivera, brought people to expose our deception, the usually calm and collected Rudolf unexpectedly pulled Gabriela into his embrace.

Meanwhile, the ruthless Mose imprisoned me in his palace, staying by my side day and night.

Little did they know, this performance was one we had been planning for three years.

This was the third time this month that Anna had tried to harm me and Gabriela.

We stood beside the Spirit Pool in the Celestial Realm, watching as Anna sank deeper and deeper into its waters until only bubbles remained on the surface.

Gabriela furrowed her brow and snorted, "Anna, stop pretending."

Just then, hurried footsteps approached from behind.

I tugged at Gabriela's sleeve, but before I could utter a word, a powerful force shoved me toward the Spirit Pool.

I fell in, losing all control over my body. Gabriela's panicked cry echoed in my ears. "Etta!"

I struggled to surface, only to see my husband, Mose, leap into the pool without hesitation.

But he swam in the opposite direction from me.

It wasn't until he had rescued the unconscious Anna from the bottom of the pool and began resuscitating her on the shore that I realized he hadn't spared me a single glance.

Water filled my nose, and as I was about to lose consciousness, a force pulled me towards the shore.

I heard Gabriela's anxious voice in my ear. "Etta! You can't die! What would I do without you?"

Gabriela pressed on my chest until I coughed up all the water in my lungs, finally regaining full awareness. I managed a weak smile, leaning into her embrace.

"I won't die so easily," I murmured.

I looked over at Mose, who was still trying to revive the pretending Anna with his magic.

His hands trembled slightly as he pleaded, "Anna, wake up. I can't lose you again."

Gabriela slowly helped me to my feet and snapped at Mose, "Are you blind? Didn't you see that you pushed Etta into the water just now? Anna has magic to protect her; she won't die. Etta is just a mortal, and what's more, she's your..."

Before Gabriela could finish, Anna woke up with a violent cough. She opened her eyes, the redness at the corners making her appear pitiable.

Whether intentional or not, she pressed her soaked body closer to Mose.

"Mose, I'm fine. You should check on Etta first," she said softly.

Mose cast a cold glance at me. "Which one of you pushed her?"

I shook my head and replied, "She jumped in herself."

Gabriela grew even more furious, pointing at Mose and berating him. "Do you have a brain? This is the third time this month that Anna has had an 'accident' in front of us. Even the stupidest person should have figured out what's going on by now."

Anna, still in Mose's arms, began to sob. "It's my fault. I accidentally fell in. Mose, don't blame them. It has nothing to do with them."

She tried to pull away from his embrace, only to be held tighter.

Mose picked her up and began walking towards the sleeping chambers.

"You've caught a chill. I'm taking you back," he said.

Gabriela blocked his path, with me shivering from the cold behind her.

She warned, "Don't forget that Etta is your wife. She nearly died because of you just now. Do you have no heart?"

Mose deftly avoided Gabriela, not sparing me even a glance.

He replied, "I haven't forgotten, but I know one thing for certain. You guys just can't stand seeing Anna well."

Gabriela was furious. She pulled me along, intending to stop the pair again, when another voice came from behind us.

"What happened to Anna?"

Rudolf strode over, his eyes fixed concernedly on Anna.

Mose didn't bother with a detailed explanation, only saying coldly, "Brother, you'd better keep your wife in order. You don't want Anna to die again."

He walked away, leaving Rudolf to stare at us with a gloomy expression.

Rudolf grabbed Gabriela's arm, trying to take her away, but she wrenched herself free.

His face darkened further. "Gabriela, it seems I've been too lenient with you. You're so spoiled and unruly. Go back and receive your punishment."

Then he left without another glance at Gabriela, hurrying after Mose.

In the cool breeze, only the two of us remained, soaked to the bone. Passing servants whispered among themselves as they observed our pitiful state.

"Now that Anna has returned, what place is there for these two mortals?"

"Indeed. If not for one looking like Lady Anna and the other having saved Prince Rudolf's life, how could they have had the fortune to marry into the Celestial Realm?"

Gabriela stood with her head bowed in silence for a long while before suddenly grasping my hand.

She said, "Etta, let's leave. We don't have to endure this mistreatment anymore. I once helped the Chief Alchemist, and he promised to grant me one wish. I'll ask for a potion to fake our deaths, and we'll leave together, okay?"

I nodded, exchanging a knowing smile with her.

The peach tree beside us rustled slightly. We turned to look, only to see a shower of falling petals.

Late at night, Mose still hadn't returned.

Obviously, he was still by the side of Anna, who had fallen into the water and caught a chill.

Gabriela climbed over the wall and slipped into my room. She sat beside me, handing me a small box.

"I've already taken the medicine," she whispered. "It should take effect in the next few days. When I enter a state of feigned death, all you have to do is hold my body and jump into the Reincarnation Well. Then we can both return. As for the demonic energy in the well, don't worry. I acquired this secret medicine that can block its invasion for an hour."

She paused, letting out a chuckle. "Does this feel like a lovers' pact to die together?"

I rolled my eyes at her and said nothing.

Footsteps echoed outside the door. Gabriela stuck out her tongue at me before running out and climbing over the wall to return to her own palace.

The next moment, Mose pushed open the door and walked in.

He looked at me and asked with a frown, "Who were you talking to just now?"

I shook my head, maintaining my usual docile demeanor in front of him.

"No one. Just talking to myself," I replied.

He shot me an indifferent glance instead of pursuing it.

"Go to sleep," he said.

I blinked in surprise that he hadn't questioned me about hurting Anna, as he always did.

Nevertheless, I obediently lay down on the innermost side of the bed.

Mose removed his clothes and lay down beside me.

He had his back to me, and his voice was devoid of any emotion as he said, "Anna just got back. She's feeling insecure, and I have to be considerate of our past."

I felt the warmth of his body, but my blood ran cold.

Mose had always been clever. He must have understood everything.

He knew what happened that day and the days before were all set by her to frame Gabriela and me.

Yet he still chose to side with Anna, not for any other reason but simply because she was feeling insecure.

I turned my back to him as well and hummed in response.

Since Anna's return, everything around me had been constantly reminding me that the only reason I'd gotten this far was because my face resembled Anna's.

What could a mere stand-in do to change anything for the real person?

I closed my eyes, saying no more.

The sound of steady breathing came from behind me, but I couldn't fall asleep.

...

Two days later, Gabriela climbed over the wall into my courtyard again and tossed me a ring.

She said, "This ring is a magical artifact. It can store a lot of things. You should start packing."

I took it and immediately used it to store all the jewelry and coins that Mose had given me.

Gabriela clicked her tongue. "Who would've thought Mose could be so generous?"

The next day, I was alone in the small garden outside the hall, tending to the flowers I had planted.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside.

I stood up, walked to the door, and grabbed a passing maid to ask what was going on.

The maid looked extremely nervous, but out of respect for my status, she answered properly, "His Highness took the Consort and Lady Anna to attend a banquet. On their way back, they were attacked by demons. Lady Anna was injured, and His Highness is summoning the royal physicians to treat her."

A growing sense of unease gripped me, and even my voice trembled as I asked, "What about the Consort? Where is Gabriela?"

The maid hesitated before replying timidly, "I didn’t see Princess Gabriela when His Highness returned."

I released the maid and dashed towards the Nebula Palace as if my life depended on it.

When I passed by the entrance to the Celestial Realm, I saw Rudolf's trusted aide holding a familiar figure.

I rushed over and saw Gabriela, covered in wounds, and my eyes instantly reddened.

"Gabriela, are you all right?" I asked anxiously.

Gabriela gave me a weak smile. "Yeah, it will be over soon."

I immediately understood what she meant.

The medicine was beginning to take effect.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Gabriela suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.

I was taken aback, thinking to myself that the drug's effect was indeed potent, but I maintained a façade of grief on my face.

"Gabriela! Gabriela!" I cried out.

The guard quickly settled Gabriela and rushed out to find the imperial physician.

However, it took a long time for the guard to return, and there was no one behind him.

I frowned. "Where is the physician?"

The guard hesitated for a moment. "They are all with Lady Anna. Her maid stopped me from entering, and both princes are accompanying her."

I gritted my teeth and rushed out. Anyway, the show must go on.

...

Inside Nebula Palace, Anna leaned weakly against Rudolf, while Mose was expending his magical power to heal her.

The maid indeed stopped me, looking down at me with disdain.

She said sternly, "Halt! Our lady is inside receiving treatment. No one is allowed to enter."

I coldly stared at her and slapped her across the face.

"I am the princess! How dare you stop me?" I snapped.

The commotion at the door disturbed the people inside. I heard Mose say, "Let her in."

The maid glared at me before stepping aside.

I quickly walked in and grabbed a physician to take him outside.

"Stop!"

I paused but still chose to walk towards the door.

Mose's voice was tinged with anger. "Etta Lambert! What do you think you're doing?"

I stopped, and when I turned around, my eyes were already red.

I replied, "I'm making a scene. What are you doing?"

I pointed at Rudolf, who was holding Anna. "Rudolf! You left Gabriela behind, not caring about her life or death. She is just a mortal with no magical powers. She can only rely on medicine to heal. But now you are holding all the physicians. What should Gabriela do?"

"She won't die," Rudolf said without looking up.

I was stunned. "Do you know what you are saying?"

Rudolf snorted, "Gabriela colluded with demons! It's already a great mercy that I haven't divorced her, and she dares to ask me for medicine? Don’t worry. The demons wouldn't hurt her badly."

I realized that this was likely another frame-up by Anna.

Just as I was about to refute, that guard rushed in. "Your Highness, Lady Gabriela is severely injured and has already passed away."

I froze, collapsing to the ground. Tears streamed down my face.

Rudolf suddenly looked up but then seemed to remember something and frowned.

"Gabriela is something now, even able to bribe you," he snorted at the guard.

I stood up, wiped away my tears, and choked up. "If you don’t believe, just o and see yourself! Gabriela is now in the side palace! When she came back, she was covered in blood."

Rudolf stood up, walking towards me. "Fine, I'll go see what tricks she's playing now. Let me remind you. Gabriela's collusion with demons is a grave sin. If she continues to play fire, I can't protect her."

I smiled sarcastically and did not respond.

Rudolf followed the guard and hurriedly left.

Just then, Mose's voice sounded. "Anna, you're awake."

Anna turned to me, speaking softly. "Etta, I'm sorry about this. I didn't expect Rudolf to leave Gabriela behind."

The anger in my heart was instantly ignited. I rushed forward and grabbed her hair.

"Shut up and drop your act!" I snapped.

Anna screamed in pain, shaking her head.

But before I could say another word, a slap landed firmly on my face.

It stung fiercely.

Mose looked at me coldly. "Have you had enough? Anna has nothing to do with this matter."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and through my blurred vision, I caught a glimpse of his panic.