Flashback.


    When Ann was rolling down the stairs on the day of the royal ball, she felt as though her consciousness was been pulled out. She managed to say three words to the king, after that she felt her spirit leaving her body.


    She no longer has the will to live, if she did she felt she would only become a weakness to Richard but somehow she could not live her body and die.


    When she saw princess Ellen cleaning her injuries and begging her not to die, her emotions become complicated. Now that Richard had people to take care of him, Ann thought she could leave without worries but she was wrong.


    Now she was worried that the princess will blame herself if she really died. She was still in this dilemma when she met a spirit.


    "You have to go back, if you leave now things will become complicated. Princess Ellen and Richard will blame themselves. Although Regina will not escape unharmed as she wishes, your death will give her a sense of fulfillment," The spirit said.


    When Ann gave a close look she could recognize the woman before her. It was said in the folktale that when a person falls unconscious they would meet the wandering spirit of the dead.


    This spirit could not return to their ancestral home because of the mistake they have made while alive. Some would wander for a  century as a punishment, while others will wander until they are fortunate to reincarnate and live a better life.


    But this person had been good when she was alive, if her spirit can also wander then who could rest after death.


    "Why have you become a wandering spirit?" Ann asked.


    "Do you not already know, I am been punished," the sprite answered. A person as old as Ann should know this.


    "I know that, but you were such a kind person when you were alive. How can this be," Ann was very surprised?


    "I was but I was also stupid. I have insulted and called my birth mother many names. I also made her life miserable. When she died I did not pay the respect a daughter should pay to her mother. How can I rest? Moreover, I have kept a snake as a sister. Got myself killed before my time. I did not even spare my young daughter. I handed her to the care of the snake. Tell me, do you think am worthy to rest after creating so much trouble?" The spirit asked.


    Ann was tongue-tied, she could not really tell her that she deserved being a wandering spirit so she could only look at her.


    "You have to go back and care of them. Please, at least my heart will not ache so much if they are fine," the spirit said.


    Ann shook her head. "I will only bring trouble to him. I thought becoming a queen was a way to help him but it will bring more trouble. I am already this old but I do not know how to be a Queen.


    I have lived my life cleaning and been a maid. Anytime I make mistake people will secretly laugh at him. But if I go now, he will not need to face that in the future," Ann replied.


    "No, I know all about being a Queen, as long as you accept then I can teach you," the spirit said. The spirit was desperate to convince Ann.


    "No, I have lived this long, it is a good time to leave Even if you teach me, I am already too old to learn," Ann replied.


    " What nonsense are you saying. As long as you are willing you can learn," The spirit said.


    Ann shook her head, "I am not willing. If I die, King George will defiantly punish her. He heard what I said before I become unconscious. Once she loses the last bit of power she has, they would live a peaceful life. There is nothing I am going back for. Richard already met his real family. He would not be lonely," Ann replied.


    The spirit was still trying to convince her but Ann was looking in another direction. It has been long, I miss my family," When Ann spoke she was looking in another direction. The spirit looked over and saw unfamiliar faces. They seem to have come to welcome Ann.


    "You can not give up," the spirit beg. Ann looked at the woman. This was a hard decision but she already made up her mind. She was convinced that her death is more useful to Richard than if she stayed alive.


    She knew that lady Regina will not be easy to deal with. That woman will use her to threaten Richard in the future.


    "If you die now Regina can easily deny pushing you down. You have to go back and deal with her," the spirit did not give up convincing her, Ann paused.


    She seems to think about what the spirit said to her. After the short pause, Ann looked at the spirit. "Why don''t you go instead?" Ann asked.


    "What?" The spirit did not expect these words from Ann. "I have heard that if one dies and he is not immediately covered up, a wandering spirit can take over the body. I want to reunite with my family and you want to go back and make things right, this is a fair trade," Ann said.


    The spirit was stunned and did not know how to reply. Ann''s words made sense but she felt it will be selfish.


    "I am granting you the permission. Consider it my apology for not warning you back then. If I had said a word you might not have taken that tea," Ann said.


    The spirit was surprised. It wander for almost twenty years. No spirit was willing to give their body to another.  Wandering spirits who managed to steal the body of those that died were highly lucky that the family of the dead did not notice when the person died. Therefore given the wandering spirit a chance to live.


    "You have done too much, if you have made up your mind, then your body should rest too," the spirit could not accept this. She owe this woman too much and she was unwilling to owe her more.


    "Ahh! The body is just like the cloth one puts on. You do not have to be so polite. Besides I have already married your husband in the body. It is only right that you go. Look, the people in the room are not even paying attention to me. If you do not take this chance another spirit will. Are you willing to continue to watch them suffer even if you can do something to change it?" Ann asked.


    Ann was not doing this for the spirit. She was a very selfish mother. Ann knew that if this spirit was to return then Richard will definitely be safe. This woman will be of more use to Richard. Every mother will make decisions that benefit their child the most.


    The spirit could no longer reject, she wanted to go back and protect her children and of course seek revenge.


    "Is there anything you will like me to do when I returned?" The spirit asked.. Since it was going to take over Ann''s body it''s was willing to follow Ann''s rules.