Forensic Imperial Concubine

Only two sober people remained in the room, and Harper cast a glance at her unconscious husband.

"Zack, you're the only one who's ever going to hear what I'm about to say. And whatever I'm going to tell you, you can't ever tell anyone else, not even your father. Do you swear it to me?" With a grim face, Harper kept her eyes on him, feeling with all her heart that Zack was the only one who could keep this secret for her life's sake.

"I swear, this is between you and me."

Harper finally nodded, letting out her breath. "Matthew was poisoned, and his life was in danger. I managed to seal the toxins in his legs, so he's unable to walk. We've found all the herbs needed to detoxify him, but I'm not sure who it was that exposed this secret. In process of detoxifying him, a mistake had been made, and he could die at any time. In order to save him, I'll have to take a massive risk, and pay a tremendous price."

"And what's that price?" Zack stared at her, having understood what she was trying to say. "Does this mean that you'll die? If that's what you're trying to tell me, Harper, I'm not going to let you do it. If you die trying to save him, I'll burn this mansion to the ground. There's no point in saving him if you have to die for it!"

At his vehemence, Harper shook her head and carefully sat on the edge of the bed. With much tenderness, she tucked Matthew's hair behind his ears. "I won't die, Zack. But I will become week, and fall comatose for a while. And no one knows when I will wake up, not even me."

"What are you talking about?"

huge. When I make my attempt to detoxify Matthew, we'll both fall into a coma. While this is happening, I'll need someone to help me guard the prince's mansion and wait for him to wake up." Harper drew out a delicately-crafted token. The token had been a gift from

Zack's hands. "This is the Black Flag Token. I'm sure you've heard of it. With this, you'll be able to order around everyone in this mansion. Once Matthew wakes up, you have to give it back to him. If neither of us will be able to wake up after what I'm about to do, then you'll have to keep it. You'll have to find another talented general for the

don't want the Black Flag Token or any of it.

Zack. I'm a part of Matthew now. If he were to die, His Majesty would never allow me to live anyway, and Matthew's people wouldn't let me take the Black Flag Token and give it to His Majesty. Whatever

always thought that Harper didn't really harbor deep feelings for Matthew, but from the way she spoke,

please, I beg you. I've no one else to turn to, no one else to rely on. I can only beg you to help me, please. I can't let my husband die right before my eyes," Harper whispered.

corners pricked his flesh,

if I were to die, Zack, because

jealousy, Zack already knew what Harper's choice was now. There was no doubt that Matthew was a fine husband, and when he was determined to express love, very few people could truly resist his charm. And Harper

Harper rose and walked to Matthew. She sat at the edge of the bed and pressed a hand against his body. Without warning, a bulge grew beneath his skin, like a tumorous growth, and it disappeared as rapidly as it appeared. Drawing out a dagger, she cut her palm open, and made another slice just near where the bulge had been. She attached her open wound to the cut