The alphas broken slave

Content:

On the battlefield of the unclaimed, the stench of death hung heavy in the air. A dusty carriage raced towards the scene, the two drivers covering their faces with masks to ward off the overwhelming stench of decay. Swiftly, they unloaded a body wrapped in straw mats and discarded it amidst the piles of the fallen.

"Lets get out of here, this job is cursed," one muttered, his voice muffled by the mask.

"Who are we to argue? We didnt grease the palm of the new housekeeper, Mrs. Liu. Shes the confidante of the new madam, and not paying respects means suffering," the other grumbled.

"Todays the day the new madam enters the house, and our old one has finally passed. What a relief," they jeered, climbing back onto the carriage.

"Ha, you think its a coincidence? The day the new madam arrives was set long ago, and so was the death of our lady," one whispered conspiratorially.

The others face paled slightly, understanding the implication. He climbed onto the carriage, casting a glance at the straw-wrapped figure left behind. "She had a tough life," he sighed, before urging the horses to move.

The wind picked up, unraveling the straw mat to reveal a woman as pale as death. Her clothes were worn and thin, but her beauty was still evident beneath the disarray. Her cracked and rough fingers twitched, and her consciousness was a blur. Was she dead, or just dying?

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves grew closer. With heavy eyelids, she could make out a man on horseback, his cloak billowing in the wind. Who would come to see her off in such a state?

The horse stopped beside her, and she was enveloped in a warm embrace. It had been so long since she had felt such warmth.

"Im sorry, I was too late," came a voice, one she recognized with a start.

Nicholas Parker, her nominal uncle, the adopted son whom no one in the Parker family truly respected. She, Emily Parker, had treated him with nothing but disdain and cruelty.

Yet, when the Parker family fell from grace, it was he who rose through the ranks, becoming a powerful figure in the court, a man to be feared and respected.

She never thought he would be the one to see her off in the afterlife. She had assumed he would hate her, just as he hated the Parker family.

Indeed, it is only when one is on the brink of death that they can see who is genuine and who is false, who is good and who is bad.

Tears welled up in Emilys eyes. If she had another chance, she would not repeat the same mistakes and end up like this.

She was too weak, her breaths shallow, her consciousness fading. She could barely move a finger, and she might truly be dying.

"Emily, Im taking you home," Nicholas whispered, placing a gentle, feather-light kiss on her forehead.

Emilys body tensed, but there was no time to think. Her consciousness dissipated, and with it, the regrets of a life filled with missteps.

——————

"Miss, miss, stop sleeping. Its time to pay respects to your grandmother," a voice urged, pulling her from her slumber.

She rolled over in the warm silk comforter, a luxury she hadnt felt in years.

Silk comforter?

Mark Johnson could never afford such luxury for her, could he?

Emilys eyes snapped open to reveal a sky-blue canopy above her, adorned with golden tassels. The room was opulent, even the tea cups on the table were made of fine jade.

A round face appeared before her, small hands waving in front of her eyes. "Miss? Did you have a nightmare?"

Pearl? Her most loyal maid, who had grown up with her, was still alive, hadnt been poisoned into muteness, hadnt met a tragic end at the hands of others.

Feeling the soft silk comforter, Emily was lost in thought. She truly had been given a second chance.

"What time is it now?" she asked.

Pearl frowned. "Now? Its the year of our Lord 1632. Miss, are you feeling alright? Youre asking strange questions."

The year of our Lord 1632, how perfect. She hadnt married Mark Johnson yet, and she still had her grandmother and father.

"Why is sister still sleeping? She must be lazy, right?" A bright and beautiful girl entered the room, her face adorned with .

Emily looked at her, her gaze briefly cold before returning to normal. "What brings you here?"

Lisa Martin didnt seem to notice the change in Emilys mood. She assumed it was just her sisters morning grumpiness.

Lisa smiled, pulling her up to get ready. "Sister, dont sleep anymore. Let me personally serve you in dressing and making up, alright? We mustnt be late for grandmothers morning respects."

Lisa spoke as if she would do it herself, but she just pulled Emily up and sat her down, signaling the other maids to attend to her.

Lisa was like that, always speaking as if she was the most respectful and humble, but never actually doing anything to show it.

But this facade had fooled Emily in the past, making her believe that her half-sister was truly at her feet.

"Sister, dont forget, the most important thing today is to tell grandmother that you dont want the Thompson familys proposal, or once its set, you and Mark can never be together!" Lisa whispered in her ear.

Emily raised an eyebrow. So that was why Lisa was so eager today, to remind her of this matter.

In her past life, her family had planned to arrange a marriage with the Thompson family, who were royal merchants and wealthy. The Thompson familys second son, though a bit willful, was considered a good match, and the whole family was pleased.

Except for Emily.

She had listened to Lisa and her mother, believing the Thompson familys son to be a good-for-nothing heir and that her family only cared about the alliance for their own gain, not her happiness.

And before that, Lisa had deliberately arranged for her cousin Mark Johnson to meet her in secret, praising him as if he was unparalleled.

In the end, Emily had caused a huge uproar in the family to marry Mark, nearly killing her grandmother with anger.

But they couldnt stop her.

She thought she was fighting for love, passionate and beautiful, not realizing she had become a pawn for others.

Lisa was so eager for Emily to resist the Thompson familys proposal because she had her eyes on it.

But in the end, even if Emily didnt want the proposal, the Thompson family didnt consider Lisa, a commoner, as a suitable replacement, and it all turned out to be a futile effort.