“I gave you my soul in my last life. In this one, I’ll settle for your crown.”
~
In my first life, I was the devoted Queen. I waited two months for my husband, King Lauren, to return from the front lines—only for him to walk through the palace gates with a beautiful young maiden by his side and a decree in his hand: ‘She would be the new Queen’.
And because of that evil beauty he brought to our kingdom, I died a discarded "nobody," executed for a crime I didn't commit.
But death didn't take me. It sent me back.
I woke up on the morning of his return. The crowds are cheering, the flowers are blooming, and my husband is about to humiliate me in front of the entire kingdom.
But he doesn't know I've changed. He doesn't know I've returned with a special skill that makes me the most dangerous woman in the room.
Before he can introduce his "New Queen," I hand him the one thing no one in this kingdom has ever dared to ask for: Divorce papers.
In our land, a Queen asking for divorce is an abomination punishable by stoning.
But Lauren thinks I’m bluffing. He looks me in the eye, tears my petition to shreds, and growls, “You are my wife. I will never stamp those papers.”
He thinks he is keeping me trapped. He doesn't realize he has trapped himself in a palace with a woman who knows every one of his secrets—and is prepared to burn his kingdom to the ground just to see him sign his name.
My goal is simple; I will make him fall... not in love, but to his knees.
Since he spent my first life making me cry. I’ll spend my second making him bleed.

"Send out letters to every skilled fighter and trained men, stating that the queen will be choosing one of them to personally train her." I instructed my messenger and he nodded in understanding.


"Anything else, your highness?" He asked to be sure.


"That will be all for now." I said, dismissing him as I sat on the chair close to my desk.


I had told my ladies in waiting to leave me alone after they helped me change into something more comfortable for the remainder of the day.


Weirdly, I was eating less and it bothered me. It's not like I avoided it but I just didn't have the appetite.


Suddenly, a thought came to mind and I quickly got up and went to my doors as I pulled one open just to find Dally around with the guards stationed at my wing.


"You are still here?" I asked in surprise.


Chapter 21 - Hardened Heart