prologue:

a young maid was sitting in the kings chambers staring down at the emerald city. she rubbed her stomach and felt a great happiness well up inside her. she couldn't waited to tell him, she couldn't wait to she his happy expression and demand that his wife leave so he could marry her. he never had the chance to leave her but with this baby it was the perfect excuse to leave her. she looked at the old clock above his door. it was almost one, he'd be here in a few minutes. he always arrived at one because he'd always tell people he likes to eat late but he always came to see her. finally the clock hit one and the door slowly creaked open

"ah my dear Victoria," said the king as he closed the door and walked up to her

"how I've missed you. my wife has been keeping me on my toes so I haven't had the chance to see you that much. but I'm here now, so shall we-"

"wait before we do anything there's something I must tell you," Victoria stood up and looked at the king.

"what is it my flower?" he asked

"I'm going to have a child," she said

the king sat there speechless. she waited to see him jump for joy but she only saw horror in his eyes.

"what's wrong? aren't you happy now you can leave your wife and-"

"I mostly certainly am not happy!" he yelled. he stood up, grabbed her arms, and looked into her eyes. Victoria grew scared.

"do you have any idea of how awful this is! I already have an heir to the throne. if that child is born, everything I stand for will be destroyed! my wife will leave me!"

"but isn't that good? you've always told me that-"

"it's not good! I don't want your child, I want my wife and daughter!"

tear started to form in Victorias eyes. what was wrong with him? why was he saying such awful things to her? it wasn't like him.

"I want you to leave. I want you to go and never come back," he said as he released his grip on her arms. he started heading for the door when Victoria stepped in front of him

"you can't leave! you've told me over and over that you love me!" she screamed

" I could never love a whore like you. now get out of my sight!" he pushed her out of the way and stormed out the door

"nooooooo!" Victoria yelled "I need you, please stay!"

she broke down sobbing on the floor. she had never heard such heartbreaking words said from the man she loved. how could he do this to her? What did she ever do?

"well this is quite a surprise. I never knew the king had such a dirty little secret."

Victoria looked up to find a woman dressed in black and green standing in the doorway. It was Evanora the kings advisor. Victoria jumped to her feet, trying to make herself look less of a pathetic mess than she did.

"is there something I can do for you Ms. Evanora?" Victoria asked, wiping the tears from her eyes

"actually it's more what can I do for you,"

"Why would you want to help me?"

"I just heard that little screaming match you had with the king. terrible tragedy, and I think we should do something about that. punish him in a manner of speaking,"

"I don't understand?"

"you see I have no love for this king. A man who behaves like him does not deserve the throne,"

"what is it you would like to do?" asked Victoria

"Simple really, a little bit of poison should silence that mouth of his," Said Evanora pulling out a green vile

Victoria was shocked, she was mad at the king but she would never go as far as to murder him, she loved him.

"No. I can't, I won't. I would never," Victoria said confidently "Your plan will never work and I will never help you,"

"Think about it. He tells you he loves you, yet once he finds out your with child he tosses you to the curb like a piece of garbage," Said evanora

Those words were like rubbing salt on the wound.

"That may be true but I wouldn't kill him,"

"Victoria think about. The man is going to banish you and you will have to raise that child in the dirt, put her in rags. while his daughter feasts on royal turkey and dresses in only the finest clothing in oz. If you want your child to have what Glinda has, you need to get rid of the king. You poison him and I will make sure your child receives only the finest. Help me and I will make sure you and your child will want for nothing,"

Victoria stood there speechless. She could never hurt the king, but her child needed comfort. She couldn't raise her child in the streets, they'd never survive. The king would never accept the child into his family, and it would only make matters worse if she tried. Was there really no other option? Was the only way to keep her child alive was to kill the king. But she loved him, didn't she?

"It seems you need some time to think this through. If you change your mind put in his food before his daughter Glinda comes to pick it up to give it to him. You'll be free of blame and no one will ever know,"

Evanora placed the small vile in Victoria's hands and walked out the room. Victoria held the tiny vile in her hands. It seemed so fragile, hardly seemed like a weapon that could steal a man's life. She felt so nervous and scared, if she used the vile her child would live a comfortable life but she would feel awful for the rest of her life. However if she didn't she'd be living in the streets while her child would be begging for scraps, and they probably wouldn't last a year in that life. Her child's life or the kings? Which would it be?