“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.

Without saying another word to Peculiar, I turned with the aim of returning back to Deborah only to hear Peculiar call after me,


I reluctantly stopped and turned to look at her just to find her giving me a firm look, although she hadn't moved from where I left her.


"Since she is healed, does this mean the duel will happen?"


At her question, I stilled as it finally dawned on me that there was something like that happening.


Funny enough, I hadn't called it off even while we were both in pain.


So it is officially still in place and will happen.


"Yes," I gave a simple and obvious answer before turning to walk back to my room.


But on the way, I yelled out, "I will meet with you in the royal garden at eventide."


Without waiting for her response, I added more pace as I rushed back to my chamber and on getting there, I had the guards unlock the doors before I prepared to go in.


Chapter 65 - Unsuccessful bargain