Chapter 1
My former fiancé joined the crown prince's failed coup to seize the throne.
Not only did I get off scot-free, but I somehow ended up engaged to the new crown prince, Julian Foster.
Because Julian acted ruthless and forced me, his former sister-in-law, into marriage, people labeled him a tyrant.
Right before his coronation, his first love, Lydia Ashcroft, came back.
The whole kingdom buzzed, wondering if I'd call off our engagement to make room for her.
I believed in doing noble things, like giving Julian back to Lydia.
But the second I stepped into Julian's study, a flood of Comments suddenly popped up before my eyes.
[Julian fought like hell to make Isabelle his fiancée. And suddenly it's gonna end in tragedy?]
[Isabelle, quit being such a saint. He doesn't want your kindness. He's head over heels for you. He's just too chicken to admit it. He's convinced you're still hung up on your childhood sweetheart, and he'd lose his mind from jealousy.]
[I live for broken-hearted guys. Isabelle, tell Julian you're ending the engagement. I want to watch this perfect prince lose it over you.]
[Don't listen to them, Isabelle. Julian is dark, crazy, and obsessed with you. Trust me, teasing him is way more fun than torturing him. Slap him, and he'll probably frame the handprint.]
What the hell was this?
*****
Recently, some ministers proposed arranging an imperial bride show for Julian.
Word was, it was a way to get Lydia into the palace with a proper title.
Word got around fast at court and beyond, and even folks on the streets were buzzing about whether I'd get dumped before the wedding.
Right when I was about to ask Julian for a divorce, the Comments kept looping in my head, and I hesitated.
He was the crown prince now. If he really wanted Lydia, all he'd have to do was give a hint and my father would call off the engagement.
But he hasn't.
Why not?
Was it because he liked Lydia, but still needed my family's backing?
Should I step aside and suggest breaking off the engagement?
I stood by the door, not going in or saying a word.
Julian looked up at me. His eyes glinted like stars, but his expression was anything but friendly.
Those stacks of official documents must have really pissed him off.
Great, I picked the worst time to show up.
I hesitated, debating whether I should wait until he was in a better mood before coming in.
Just then, the Comments popped up again.
[Julian deserves to be single. Why's he giving Isabelle that death glare? How's she supposed to know he likes her?]
[Isabelle, he's mad right now. Just say one little thing and you'll smooth him right over. I wanna see him turn into a total sap.]
[Don't do it. Just say you're breaking off the engagement, hook him up with some other fancy lady, and watch him go nuts. Yeah, I'm here for the drama, lol.]
I was even more confused.
When the marriage alliance was first set up, everyone thought Julian was forced into it out of necessity.
My grandfather and father had both been prime ministers.
Lucas, my older brother, enlisted in the military. With his badass combat skills and sharp strategic mind, he moved up the ranks fast. In just a few years, he became a top general.
Our Sinclair family was unmatched in power and influence in the city.
The second I was born, the late king betrothed me to Prince Adrian, his favorite consort's son.
But since his mother came from humble beginnings, Prince Adrian was never in line for the throne.
My father was totally on board. With him and Lucas as my backing, being a laid-back prince's wife meant a life of luxury and stability.
Because of that arranged betrothal, I was trained from day one to be the perfect royal bride. I mastered everything: lute, harp, court dances, needlework, and even estate bookkeeping.
My father spoiled me rotten, teaching me to read and write himself, while Lucas snuck me out for horseback riding and ball games. I grew up absolutely showered in love.
Then, everything went sideways that year.
First, Prince Adrian broke off our engagement, and a few months later, the crown prince tried to seize the throne.
Julian approached my family with a marriage proposal.
My family and I figured he needed Lucas's support to fix the chaos, and marriage was his way to gain our trust.
My family never wanted me to marry into the royal family anyway. They told Julian they'd support him, but there was no need for a marriage.
Yet Julian wouldn't take no for an answer.
We thought he wanted an engagement to ensure we wouldn't back out at the last minute, so we agreed.
After that, Julian pulled off a heroic rescue and got promoted to crown prince.
And just like that, I was upgraded from his fiancée.
Two years later, the king passed away.
Julian insisted on marrying me and crowning me as his queen the very day he took the throne. It broke tradition, but he was such a tyrant that no one dared to challenge him.
Honestly, I was confused. We'd been engaged for three years, but we barely even talked. So why was he so insistent on making me his queen on his coronation day?
Seven days before the wedding, I heard that Lydia, the one Julian loved but could never have, had come back.
I came to see him today, planning to break off the engagement, letting him be with Lydia.
But the Comments said he was in love with me.
I could hardly believe it.