I clenched my fists, struggling to maintain my composure.

If it stayed the same as in my past life, I would go into labor at dawn, and the baby would be born by the following night.

Without hesitating, I instructed my personal maid, Martha Ward, to fetch Lancelot quick, demanding him to come over tonight.

In my past life, I had also sent someone to notify Lancelot when I had went into labor, but Donna and Caroline had intercepted the message.

They had argued that as it was my first pregnancy, so I was not likely to labor tonight. Adding that Lancelot had been busy with state affairs, it would be better not to disturb him.

They suggested waiting until the next day, closer to my delivery, so he wouldn't be distracted by personal matters during such an important time.

Besides, this was a crucial time for Lancelot. He couldn't afford to neglect his responsibilities for family matters and risk displeasing the Emperor.

I had been stupid enough to believe them and hadn't informed Lancelot right away.

Donna had also barred the maids I brought from Stanley Manor from entering the delivery room. She had reasoned that too many people would interfere with the process.

This left me alone with no trusted servants, giving them the perfect opportunity to switch the babies.

But this time, I wouldn't let them have their way.

Martha soon returned with troubling news. Lancelot had been sent to the military camp unexpectedly, and there was a chance he wouldn't be back tonight.

Panic surged through me. I had sent Stanley Manor guards to deliver a message to Lancelot at the camp and instructed Martha to take Lancelot's token to the Empress and ask her to send a trusted midwife from the palace to help with my delivery.

The Empress, Lancelot's mother, had urged me to stay in the palace for my delivery after I got pregnant. But in my last life, my blind trust in Donna and Caroline had led to all the tragedies that followed.

As anxiety gnawed at me, I paced around the courtyard and overwhelmed by my anxiety. I unexpectedly went into labor before noon.

I felt a warm rush surge from below, trickling down my legs to my ankles.

That sensation was all too familiar, and a dreadful thought struck me.

Looking down, I saw a puddle forming on the ground. I soon realized that my water was broke.

To my dismay, Caroline noticed right away!

Over the past few days, she had come to check on me frequently, knowing I was nearing my delivery.

It hadn't been long since we last separated, and she couldn't hold back her excitement as she rushed over to check again.

I saw a flicker of elation in her eyes.

Moreover, I could also see the faint glimmer of smugness and urgency.

Well, of course she was. With her stillborn still lying dead in her womb, it was a threat to her own life everyday.

She wouldn't have held out this long if she weren't planning to swap our babies.

Now that I was going to labor, it was more than reasonable that she was overjoyed.

But the next minute, she feigned concern and called out.

"Someone! Hurry, bring my mother here! My sister is about to give birth!"

Donna arrived quickly with the midwife in tow, her eyes betraying an uncontainable mix of tension and excitement. Upon seeing me, she immediately put on a caring expression.

"Estella, don't be afraid. I've arranged everything. Nothing will go wrong."

She signaled to the midwife, and two servants came to support me and guide me inside.

But I pushed them away.

In this new life, I would never again be their helpless victim!

"Mother, I'm going back to Stanley Manor to give birth."

Then I turned to my maid, Judith Fisher, who had come with me from Stanley Manor, "Get the carriage prepared. We're going back to Stanley Manor!"

Upon hearing this, Donna and Caroline exchanged anxious looks.

Donna quickly stepped forward to soothe me.

"Estella, you've been waiting to give birth here at Gordon Manor. Everything is prepared! Why bother going back to Stanley Manor now?"

The midwife chimed in. "Your Royal Highness, your water has already broken! If you don't labor now, the baby will die!"

A sharp contraction hit me, and I clutched Judith's arm, sweat beading on my forehead.

"I must go back to Stanley Manor. Hurry!"

The maids I brought from Stanley Manor hadn't been allowed in the delivery room in my previous life. But they still had taken the responsiblity of not taking enough care of me after I delivered a stillborn. The price had been their lives. Donna had them beaten to death.

At that time, Lancelot, heartbroken over my loss, hadn't questioned Donna's authority but instead blamed himself for not taking better care of me.

Sensing my resolve, Judith nodded and turned to prepare the carriage, only to be stopped by Caroline.

"My sister is about to give birth! If she travels now, it could harm the baby. Can you bear the consequence if anything goes wrong?"