Their insults towards me were just their pastime during breaks and meals.

Tears streamed down my face.

After every time they insulted me, I wanted to end my life. Once, I jumped into the river, but I didn't die. Later, I suffered even more sadistic abuse from Damian.

Damian even threatened me. He told me that Enoch said if I dared to seek death again, he would bring my just-turned-twelve-year-old sister to the army to replace me.

Gilbert had already died with deep resentment towards me, his unfilial daughter. How could I let any harm come to his most beloved youngest daughter?

Since that day, I completely gave up hope, and I stopped expecting Enoch to come and take me back.

Now, I heard that someone from the imperial palace had come to take me back. When I heard the words "imperial palace", I was a little dazed, as if those days in the imperial palace were already an irretrievable past life.

Damian had a piece of dog tail grass between his lips and whistled from time to time. Suddenly, he saw a group of people surrounding me.

He pushed through the crowd and cursed at me, "Bitch, what kind of seductive skill did you practice today? You've gathered so many people around. What do you want to do? Listen, as long as I want, I can..."

Before Damian could finish his words, he was pressed down by the undercover imperial guards.

"General Bancroft, our Crown Princess is here to show her sympathy to the soldiers. What is this all about?"

It was a eunuch from the imperial palace speaking in a strange tone.

After learning about the purpose of these people's arrival, Damian immediately smiled at that eunuch in a flattering manner.

"Oh. So, you are here to escort the Crown Princess back to the imperial palace. I'll let the old ladies in the military camp help Her Royal Highness to freshen up. Her Royal Highness can't meet His Majesty in this attire, can she?"

As Damian spoke, he stuffed a small ingot of silver into the old eunuch's hand in front of everyone.

The old eunuch waved his hand and let Damian pull me into the military camp.

Then, Damian pinched my chin and poured a pot of Love Philter into my mouth. The drug in it was very strong this time.

Every time Damian had sex with me, he was very aggressive.

After the sex, Damian warned me, "You damn woman, remember, don't say anything after you go back. Maybe His Royal Highness can spare your life. But if you say anything that embarrasses the royal family, not only will your own life be in danger, but your entire family will also suffer. You are really a jinx. Honestly, every time after I had sex with you, I had to wash myself several times, just to avoid being contaminated by your bad luck."

Before leaving, Damian still criticized me with harsh words.

In the past three years, I had succumbed to his whip and his threats to ruin my sister. When he cursed at me, I could do nothing but only shrink back in silence.

After arriving at the imperial palace, I was placed in Springer Palace.

I hunched over, holding the small bundle in my arms, and carefully looked at the maids who were dressed more splendidly than me. When I saw that the maids gave me a curtsy, I reflexively curtsied back. My younger sister, Francine Herrington, saw this scene and ran to me crying, "Laura, I missed you so much."

Looking at Francine's fancy clothes, I dared not hug her as I was afraid I would dirty her clothes with my frostbitten hands.

"Oh, my poor child, what kind of life have you been living for the past three years? You have suffered so much. Look at you, so thin that your bones are showing. Why did you have to suffer all this?"

My mother, Davina Herrington, felt so sorry for me. She turned her face away, and tears fell out of her eyes.

I wanted to wipe away Davina's tears, but my frostbitten hands would only make her delicate face uncomfortable.

At this time, a maid said to me, "Your Royal Highness, please allow me to take you to freshen up first. Prince Enoch has sent a eunuch to pass on the message that he will have dinner with you here tonight."

Sitting in front of the dressing mirror, I looked at myself, who had a sallow and emaciated face. Somehow, I couldn't remember what I looked like three years ago...

"The Crown Prince arrives!"

When I heard the eunuch's announcement, I suddenly felt my legs become heavy, and I couldn't move.

All the suffering I had endured in the past three years was silently allowed by Enoch. Now, my beloved mother and sister had to rely on him for a living. Enoch was like a demon to me, and I suddenly didn't know how to face him.

I had been awakened by nightmares involving Enoch countless times.

Back then, Enoch was the one who invited me to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers, but I happened to meet Clark there. After greeting Clark politely, I turned around to leave. Because I had been practicing dancing since I was little, I had excellent balance. But at that time, I somehow stepped on something and lost my balance. When I was about to fall, Clark quickly caught me.

At that moment, Enoch arrived with a group of people and pointed directly at me and Clark, accusing us of having an affair.

"Laura Herrington, you are the Crown Princess and the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Norland. How could you do something so shameless?" With that, Enoch turned his face and said to his imperial guards, "Take them down. Let His Majesty decide their fate!"

Enoch's face was cold. He acted as if I had done something unforgivable. Yesterday, we still enjoyed our moment together. But today, I became nothing more than a tool for him to eliminate his dissidents.

My father, Gilbert, was a founding general, and half of the officials in the imperial court were his students. Under pressure from Gilbert's students, the Emperor could only command to confine Gilbert to the Herrington's mansion.

Gilbert, who had always doted on me, pointed at me and cursed, "I have lived a righteous and upright life my whole life. How could I have such a shameless daughter like you?"

Gilbert was so angry that he even spat out a mouthful of blood.

Davina was afraid that I would continue to provoke Gilbert, so she sent me back to my own room.

However, in the middle of that night, Enoch broke into my house with his men and declared, "Laura Herrington has disgraced the royal family. Considering that Marquis of Norland has made great contributions as a founding general, his daughter's death penalty can be waived, but punishment is inevitable. Laura Herrington, you will be sent to the military camp outside the borders immediately and serve as a slave there. Without summoning, you are not allowed to return to the capital!"

Gilbert lay unconscious on the bed, and Davina fainted when she heard that I was sent away.

After reading the imperial edict, Enoch said to me softly, "Laura, sorry. But I have to do this. Wait for me for a few years. I will find a way to bring you back!'

I couldn't believe that the man in front of me, whom I had admired and grown up with since childhood, would sacrifice me for the throne. He used to be so perfect and decent. But in the end, he chose the throne and sacrificed me.

As Enoch's footsteps approached, my palms became sweaty, and I felt very nervous.

My sallow face was now completely pale due to extreme nervousness.

Three years ago, my father was a Marquis with great military achievements. But Enoch still chose to sacrifice him to bring down Clark. Now, I was just a military prostitute. How would Enoch use me this time?

Now, Enoch and I met again.

We used to be lovers. But now, Enoch was just my ruler, and I was just his slave.

"Your Royal Highness." I paid my respect to Enoch.

Enoch used to say to me affectionately, "Laura, don't address me as Your Royal Highness. Call me by my name, just like I call you Laura. It will make us more intimate."

But now, he heard me calling him "Your Royal Highness" again, and I was so humble in front of him.

Enoch stood frozen for a moment.

Then, he said, "Laura, why do you have to distance yourself from me like that? It makes me feel hurt."

I immediately apologized, "I'm very sorry, Your Royal Highness. It is all my fault for making you feel hurt. I'm willing to accept punishment!"

I knelt and hit my head on the floor with a heavy thud.

But Enoch asked, "How should I punish you? What should I do to you to make me feel better?"

He got up, walked to me, bent down, and pinched my chin. I could clearly see the sadness in his eyes.

But I wondered, What kind of trick is he playing this time?

Looking into Enoch's eyes, I wondered, Does he want to deceive me and make me sacrifice myself for him again?