The seventh year after marrying Augustus Sinclair, I received the decree stripping me of my title as Empress.

The system blared its warning.

If I got deposed, I’d be completely erased.

I stared at the man seated on the throne and pleaded softly.

“Your Majesty… if you do this… I’ll die.”

“Then go ahead and die.”

I lowered my head, kowtowed, and took the decree.

But when he found out I actually died, he lost his mind.

1.

On the seventh year of our marriage, Augustus hurled the just-written decree right in my face.

Blood trickled down my forehead as he scowled at me.

“Vivienne Miles, I never knew you were this cruel.”

“You should be thankful Seraphina and the child are unharmed. Had anything happened, I wouldn't have let you off so easily!”

Seraphina Sherry, his personal maid.

Had I not stumbled upon the pregnancy medicine delivered to her, I would’ve stayed in the dark forever.

Turns out the man who once vowed to stay loyal to me for life had already gotten someone else pregnant.

I picked up the decree with shaking hands.

Not just from heartbreak—but from fear. Fear of what's to come.

Right on cue, the system chimed in, its voice cold and mechanical.

“You know what this means. Being deposed equals failure. Erasure follows.”

I wasn’t ready to give up.

“Your Majesty, if I’m removed… I’ll really die.”

“What trick are you trying this time?”

His voice was ice.

“Then die.”

Up on that grand platform, Augustus sat tall in his golden robes, face like stone.

My mind jumped to five years ago—when I lost our first child and broke down. One night, I climbed the railing outside the Phoenix Palace, ready to give up. Panic spread through the entire palace as eunuchs and maids sprinted around. Augustus rushed in with guards, ignoring all protocol, and pulled me into his arms, trembling.

“Vivienne, please—for me, live.”

“I can’t go on without you.”

But things are different now. That man now tells me to die.

I smiled at him, something like resignation in my expression, and took the decree as he watched coldly.

The moment my fingers brushed the scroll, pain tore through me like a blade.

No one told me dying like this would hurt so bad.

Augustus left in a hurry with the eunuchs and maids trailing.

Had he looked back, he would’ve seen me doubled over in agony.

But of course, he didn’t.

His heart’s with Seraphina now. There’s no room left for me.

Yesterday, she broke every rule and came barging into the Phoenix Palace. Misstepped on the stairs. As she slipped, I grabbed her hand. She shook me off without even blinking and fell like a feather in the wind.

The red bleeding through her dress was too vivid to ignore.

I screamed for the imperial doctor, but all I got was her smug smile.

“Vivienne, blame yourself. You took the position that was meant for me.”

“If I want to be Empress, I had no choice but to do this.”

That same evening, in Yaoguang Hall, Augustus slapped me across the face, accused me of harming the innocent, and tossed me into the cold palace.

Only then did I understand what she really meant.

The pain began to numb.

I was so tired.

I closed my eyes.

My soul floated free—but the system didn’t pull me away right away.

It said their department was in the middle of internal audits, no time to deal with me.

Said it would take seven days.

Told me to hang around in this world for now—thought it’d be a good chance to see the people I never got to before.

Guess I’ve got seven more days to roam. Then I’m out of this world.

2.Seven days left. With nothing better to do, I wandered around and somehow drifted into Yaoguang Hall.

Inside, Seraphina sat weakly in Augustus' arms, eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Your Majesty, are you really going to depose Her Majesty?"

"And what about the coronation you promised me?"

Augustus’ face dimmed a little, and he gently pushed her away.

“We’ll talk about that later.”

“Your Majesty?” Seraphina's tone turned pitiful. “Then won’t our child be seen as illegitimate?”

“I don’t want that.”

“Stop overthinking.” Augustus tapped her forehead lightly. “I'm just worried you’re too frail. The ceremony’s too taxing for your condition.”

Seraphina broke into a smile.

The soft light of spring spilled through the window, lighting up the dimples on her face.

Augustus paused, then reached out to gently touch the corner of her eye. “You should get a crimson mark there too.”

“I like how it looks on you.”

For a moment, the hall fell silent.

They stared at each other, unreadable thoughts flickering behind their eyes.

Seraphina's smile slowly faded, but after a moment, she took his hand again and smiled sweetly. “As long as Your Majesty is pleased.”

And then they kissed.

The maids and eunuchs quietly retreated and closed the door behind them.

I couldn’t see anything more inside.

Almost like punishing myself, I sat down on the cold steps outside.

Muffled sounds drifted from behind the closed doors, soft and intimate.

A long while later, the door creaked open again.

They walked out together, hand in hand.

I followed them, watching their laughter and affection.

Seraphina playfully scolded, "Your Majesty, you should be more restrained. I am getting further along, you know."

Augustus pinched her cheek with a smirk. "You say that, but you weren't exactly holding back just now."

Seraphina flushed, raised a hand to swat him, but he caught it in one smooth motion.

"It’s getting late. Let’s go. The Empress Dowager wants us at Cining Palace for lunch."

The dismissal decree had only just been issued, and already they’re hurrying to meet the Empress Dowager—probably to discuss the new Empress.

Turns out I was nothing but a thorn in their side.

At Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager had already prepared a lavish meal. She gently patted Seraphina’s still-flat belly, smiling broadly.

"I’ve said it before, worthless hens should be kicked out of the coop.”

“Forgive my bluntness, Augustus.”

“If you’d taken a consort sooner, your child would already be running around the palace by now!”

She used to say things like this and it would always send Augustus into a fury.

The issue of heirs... it had always been an unspoken wound between us.

He’d lash out in anger every time, like a beast provoked.

“I’m still young. I’m not worried about heirs.”

"Even you, Mother, don't need to meddle.”

I remember... five years ago, I was pregnant.

But fate had other plans.

During Augustus’ southern tour, an assassination attempt was made.

I instinctively threw myself in front of him.

He came out with scratches. I didn’t wake up for days.

I lost our child—and along with it, my ability to ever have another.

Back then, whenever I sank into despair, Augustus would always say:

“I only care that you’re safe.”

“I don’t want any children, I just want you.”

“Vivienne, I only want you.”

Now—

I stared at Augustus.

Heh. So much for promises.

He didn’t say anything to rebuke the Empress Dowager, but the way he looked at Seraphina’s stomach—uncertain, conflicted.

He’s about to finally have a child, but his expression says otherwise.

I remembered what the Empress Dowager once told me:

“Augustus is young—he has time to fool around with you.”

“But when he’s older and sees ministers surrounded by their grandchildren, won't he crave that for himself?”

“Would he really leave his throne to someone outside the bloodline?”

“By then... would he still even look at you?”I said just one thing, and the Empress Dowager couldn’t argue anymore.

I said, “His Majesty loves me and promises to spend his life with me alone.”

Back then, I really believed love could conquer everything.

Turns out, the Empress Dowager had seen it all coming.

Augustus Sinclair is now thirty, has a child on the way with someone else, and I’m not even a thought in his heart.

She truly saw right through it all.

I let out a bitter smile.

Augustus, what you’ve done to me… it cuts deep.

This lifetime, I’m done waiting for you.

During the feast, the Empress Dowager spoke again.

"Augustus, if you keep delaying the coronation, I’m afraid Seraphina won’t be able to wait much longer."

Her eyes darted meaningfully to Seraphina’s belly. "Once that baby bump shows, the ceremonial robe won’t quite fit the part."

Seraphina blushed.

But Augustus looked distracted, suggesting instead that Seraphina move into Jiaofang Palace first—they could talk about the ceremony later.

The timing was perfect, but instead of going along, the Emperor—who usually treasures her like a jewel—refused to play along, which obviously annoyed Seraphina.

Augustus seemed settled in his decision but barely touched his food.

Even back at the study, he couldn’t focus—he was reading imperial reports upside down and didn’t even notice.

Was he nervous?

Is that why he suggested Seraphina move in before the ceremony?

Hard to imagine the same ruler who steers politics so decisively could get so uneasy just over a coronation.

When we were wed, Jiangnan was flooded, and the state treasury was empty—there was never a grand ceremony then.

Just then, the system spoke again.

Six days left before I can finally leave this world.

Maybe I’ll still be around, watching, on the day they finally hold the coronation.

If Augustus knew his discarded empress’s soul was right there beneath the banquets, watching everything, I wonder what he'd feel?

Probably want to throw up.

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Augustus left all the arrangements for moving into Jiaofang Palace to Seraphina.

"If there’s anything you need, just say it."

Seraphina leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

That afternoon, she asked Clara to fetch Augustus to try on ceremonial robes.

Augustus rubbed his temples, pulled himself out of the pile of documents, leaned back into the throne, and kept turning the jade thumb ring in his hand, eyes heavy with thought.

I knew that look—he was torn.

Whenever he couldn’t make up his mind, that was the face he’d pull.

But with all he’s got—a crown, a beloved woman by his side, and a child on the way—what is there to be so troubled about?

He eventually got up and headed to Jiaofang Palace with his guards.

As soon as he stepped in, he saw Seraphina stepping out from behind the screen, surrounded by a dozen maids, the sound of her jewelry filling the hall.

Even with my heart already in ruins, that moment still made something churn inside.

The robe she wore… it was the one Augustus had commissioned for me.

Crafted by the royal palace’s finest embroiderers, made from golden thread from the southern seas, and each peony brushed with powder ground from thousand-year jade.

It had taken three full years just to prepare the materials.

Every inch of the fabric was tailored to fit me perfectly.

Even the patterns—Augustus had approved every single one.

Back then, he held my hand with a smile in his eyes.

“Vivienne, we had no choice when the floods hit. I know you suffered. Once the country’s stable again, I’ll give you the grand ceremony you deserve.”

“I want to see you in the coronation robe with my own eyes.”

"On that day, I want everyone in the empire to see just how stunning and regal you are."

But now, he was giving that very robe to someone else.

The head maid of Jiaofang Palace, red-faced with panic, dropped to her knees when she saw the Emperor.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty! The Noble Consort insisted on trying it—your servant failed to stop her…"