If Esther’s identity ever became known, she could expect to be killed. After all, a royal decree could not be altered, even if the king would feel sorry for one of its victims (see Daniel 6:14–15).
And even if Esther succeeded in hiding her identity, Mordecai saw a still greater danger in store for her. This danger is described in the following verse.
13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.