No Substitute Can Replace Her Place in My Heart

I was the daughter of Prime Minister Caspian Johnson, who had been unjustly convicted as a result of factional conflicts.

Edward and I met when he was the crown prince.

Love blossomed at first sight.

Unfortunately, our plans for marriage were abruptly halted as Edward became entangled in a power struggle with his brother George Rothschild for the throne.

Tragically, the situation took a turn for the worse when the entire Johnson family was implicated in the conflict. All the men of our family were beheaded, while the women were enslaved and forced into prostitution. I was the sole survivor.

After years of losing hope, I had resigned myself to a bleak fate. Unexpectedly, Edward brought me back.

I didn't want to endure the days of humiliation anymore. Therefore, whenever he requested my company, I willingly accepted without hesitation.

My arrival caused immense dissatisfaction among those substitutes, for they felt they lost their significance.

On a day when I was not required to accompany Edward, I took a stroll towards the goldfish pond. As I approached, I noticed a group gathered in the pavilion, playing cards.

Noticing my approach, someone in the group exclaimed loudly, "It's the busy bee. Do you finally have some free time to wander around today?"

"I always thought only people like us, who rarely get to see His Majesty, come here for some leisure. Your Highness, would you like to join us?"

Perceiving their sarcastic tone, I was aware that they expected me to ignore them in order to uphold my reputation.

However, I surprised them by promptly accepting their invitation. "Alright. Prepare to lose everything."

Seeing how arrogant I was, they rolled up their sleeves, eager to compete with me at the card table.

Smiling, I graciously took a seat at the table.

I played cards a lot when I was a carefree lady in my family.

I defeated them within less than 15 minutes. As a result, all their money and jewelry were given to me and accumulated into a sizable pile, provoking frustrated grimaces from them.

As they voiced their discontent, I raised an eyebrow and replied, "If any of you have the skills to defeat me, then give it your best shot. If anyone can beat me, I will return your jewelry to you."

They agreed, and we competed in football, horse riding, and swimming.

However, despite their best efforts, they were once again defeated in each of these endeavors.

Those substitutes were filled with anguish and collectively admitted their defeat. They pleaded, "Your Highness, we beg for your mercy!"

I didn't take this matter seriously, but to my surprise, Edward cared about it so much.

I took a solitary stroll outside for some time. And upon my return, I saw Edward disciplining those substitutes by spanking them on their hands as a form of punishment.

I quickly took off my coat and approached, inquiring, "What's going on?"

The substitutes all had red palms and tears in their eyes, looking at me for help.

It turned out they tended to target the weak and fear the strong.

So, after witnessing my toughness today, they were no longer hostile to me.

Edward's maid approached me and respectfully uttered, "Your Highness, upon His Majesty's return, he was informed of the offenses committed against you today. So now, he is punishing them."

I let out a gentle laughter and leaned towards Edward, tenderly taking his hand. Then, I gestured for the maid who was punishing them to leave.

Those substitutes also ran away.

I spoke in a reassuring tone to Edward, "Alright, I bear no anger, so why should you hold any?"

He tucked my hair behind my ears and said, "As long as you don't mind. I just worry that they might cause you difficulties."

"Don't worry. They won't," I replied.

That night, under the moonlight, Edward carried me on his back as we strolled together. Playfully, I softly tickled the back of his neck, to which he responded with a gentle smile instead of getting upset.

As the ambiance set a comfortable tone, I casually inquired, "Have the ministers been discussing my background lately?"

It was understandable that people would take notice when a woman from the common people, who had gained favor from the king, suddenly appeared. Such a situation naturally invited attention and intrigue from others.

Those ministers were the first to want to uncover the origins of my humble background.

However, the entire Johnson family was guilty and suspected of treason, so my identity must not be made public.

Edward offered me reassurance, saying, "Do not be afraid. I have the freedom to marry whomever I choose. Why should it concern them? Let them make a fuss for a while, and when I disregard their opinions, they will eventually stop."

I remained silent momentarily before asking, "Edward, do you know how I got here from outside the palace?"

He didn't respond. He never asked about it on his own initiative. I thought he was also avoiding this topic.

I continued. "After my male family members were taken to the execution grounds, the women, including myself, were also forcibly taken away. I didn't see my father's execution firsthand, but while in prison, I overheard people recounting the gruesome scene where blood stained the ground.

"Coming from a life of privilege, I had never thought about being trapped in a dark and dirty place like a prison. However, I endured several months there until eventually being sold.

"My mother and sisters, some of them even died in prison before they were released.

"I had been yearning for your presence, but I understood that you were not someone I could see at will."

As the cold moonlight bathed us, Edward discerned the undercurrent of loneliness in my words. He asked with a solemn tone, "Matilda, you still blame me, right?"

With a composed demeanor, I responded honestly, "If you wish to hear the truth, then yes, I do blame you.

"I was thinking, you always say you love me, but where were you when my family was slandered? Why did you stop contacting me so early?

"You had promised to ensure my well-being and happiness. Do you recall that?"

Edward's body trembled slightly, and his face must appear distressed.

He said, "I'm sorry, Matilda. I promise I won't let you down again in the future."

A smile graced my face as if the previous conversation had never occurred. I delicately pinned a small flower that I had picked onto Edward's temple and requested him to carry me back.

"Alright, don't let that happen again," I said.

I intentionally uttered those words, aiming to inflict pain upon Edward and evoke feelings of guilt, as I suspected that he might have been complicit in the harm inflicted upon my family.

During a period of intense political strife, Edward, who was the crown prince at that time, and his brother George were engaged in a fierce battle for power. Regrettably, my father became one of the victims caught in the crossfire.

While it might have appeared that the late king was responsible for targeting the Johnson family, I held suspicions that Edward might have played a role in those actions as well.

Now that Edward had assumed the throne, rescued me, and kept numerous women resembling me, it indicated that his feelings for Matilda still lingered.

The moment Edward carried me into the palace, I resolved to seize and make the most of this opportunity.

I was determined to clear the name of the Johnson family and reclaim what was owed to us.

Therefore, my primary objective became ensuring that Edward would forever carry a sense of guilt towards me, thus granting me an invincible position within the palace.

Of course, Edward had always been stupid, unaware that my true name was not Matilda and that I was not his beloved at all.