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?"

Harper drew out a delicately-crafted token. The token had been a gift from the masked man, right before she'd gotten married. It wasn't until later on that she discovered that the masked man was actually Matthew himself, and that the token was the Black Flag Token, which the emperor dreamed of

up, you have to give it back to him. If neither of

Harper. You sound like you're giving out your last words. I don't want the Black Flag Token or any of it. I just don't want anything to

people wouldn't let me take the Black Flag Token and give it to His Majesty. Whatever Matthew's future may be, it'll be my own as well. But you? You're different. You can still

no other way? Do you have to do this?" Anxiety was written all over Zack's face as he stared at her, looking for any possible alternative. He had always thought that Harper didn't really harbor deep feelings

I do. Zack, 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. Her eyes were bright with

cradled in his palm. Its corners pricked his flesh, but he felt no pain from it. "Harper, you... Are you in love with

regrets, even if I were to

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

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