Cheap mercy? The knot in my stomach tightened. Hah…

"Bring her to my garden." She sighed and waved her hand. "And leave us."

"Your royal highness! I swear I —" For reasons unknown, the servant who merely served us tea cried for mercy. Alas, the other maid servants dragged her away.

I watched how they dragged her as she struggled, crying her royal highness' name as if asking her to let her live.

My complexion grew paler. It seemed her royal highness garden wasn't the garden I was thinking of.

When we're the only ones left in the gazebo, her royal highness let out a deep sigh. She shook her head lightly, setting her crimson eyes on me.

"It seems you have something to say." She said calmly. "You don't have to hold it in."

"I dare no —"

"That's an order." She smiled as she held her cup of tea. "You don't have to worry about offending me. I'm not as shallow as Cassara."

Cassara? So, that's the name of the second wife.

"Uhm…" I briefly glanced at the lake to ease my heart. I'm conflicted whether wife number one was a friend or a foe.

Cassara had revealed her disliking towards me. Hence, it was easier to know she just hated my existence. But with this woman before me, I didn't know her intentions.

"Hmm?" she hummed, raising her brows as she gulped down the tea.

"I just… I may sound rude, but I beg to disagree with your royal highness." I gazed down, almost bowing.

"Oh? About?" Her brows arched, intrigue on what I was talking about.

Since she ordered me to speak my mind, I had to. I just had to be careful not to offend her too much.

"Mercy is never cheap, your royal highness. It is free, but never cheap."

"Oh?"

"I think mercy is costly to the giver. Just like love and forgiveness, they are free, but I don't think they are cheap. After all, love comes with pain; forgiveness might come with betrayal disappointment. I may be wrong on this, but I want to believe mercy can uproot evil." I explained.

It surprised me how I expressed my thoughts calmly. But perhaps it was because I didn't feel danger from her? Or maybe it was because I had always believed in it?

Either way, that was my opinion. I raised my gaze to her.

Wife number one was staring at me, barely blinking. I wondered what she was thinking. Did she find my words offensive? Well, I sounded like I was… lecturing her.

Oh… my goodness!

"I didn't mean to sound rude, your royal highness." I bowed, wide eyes upon my realization.

"Silvia." she said in the same calm tone. "You can call me Silvia, my sister-in-law, and raise your head. I told you, didn't I? I'm not as shallow as Cassara."

Slowly, I raised my head. As soon as my eyes landed on her, she offered a subtle smile before sipping on her tea.

I pursed my lips in a thin line. Part of me was a little confused by her kindness, honestly. Moments ago, she punished a servant whose only fault was serving me the wrong tea.

But now, she was acting magnanimous and immaculate. Just which side was the real Silvia?

"How foolish." Silvia whispered, shaking her head while sighing. "You remind me of her."

"Pardon?"

"My big sister. Your words somehow reminded me of her." A bitter glint flickered across her crimson eyes.

It was brief, but I caught it. Her big sister?

"Your royal highness, who…" I trailed off as she corrected.

"Silvia."

My goodness wife number one. Was it really alright to call you by your name?

"Uhm…" I cleared my throat, forcing myself to utter her name with great difficulty.

"Si — si… vi…a"

"Pfft—!"

'I'm trying, even though I'm not mentally prepared. Please don't make fun of me.' My face blank as I watched her laugh.

But seeing her laugh, although it was a little repressed, softened my heart. For me, Silvia always had her guard up. So, seeing her smile was akin to a breath of fresh air.

Now that I thought about it, I remembered Sam's words: multiple truths. I had asked myself previously, which side of Silvia was the real her?

My answer was both. Both sides were her. I still don't trust her, though. But somehow, I sort of like her too.

"Just call me Silvia once you're ready." She cleared her throat as she smiled at me.

"Yes, your royal highness."

"*sigh* what will you do if I'm not here?" Again, Silvia sighed as she looked at me in pity.

Mind my own business, I guess? She'd get mad if I said that, right?

"Aside from my primary reason, I really came here because you worry me. I could instantly tell how naive and foolish you are last night. Someone like you won't survive this hell if you remain the same."

I pursed my lips in a thin line. Am I foolish and naive? I'm aware of the truth; no matter how I thought I changed after Sam came into my life, it was not enough.

Back in Grimsbanne, I kept the compassionate Lilou despite living differently. Sam never wanted to change me, which I'm always thankful for.

But in here, everything was just different. It felt like the air I breathed in was a constant reminder for me to be careful.

At the back of my head, I'm also uncertain how long I would last. No one had mentioned Sam, and I didn't know what he was doing.

"My big sister… she is just like you. Compassionate and merciful, but she's dead now."

I froze as soon as I heard her last remarks. Her older sister? For a princess to die… what were the chances I would survive?

My eagerness to escape suddenly soared.

"That's why I'm telling you, set aside or hide your beliefs, morals, compassion, and human decency. Those don't work here. Think about this: would you rather be tormented in hell, or the other way around?"