I Was Never His First Choice

Synopsis

My older sister, Victoria, only ever wanted a normal life with a partner of her own choosing. To get it, she gave up her eligibility for the Royal Consort Selection, passing the opportunity to me before leaving for the Northern Border. Eventually, I became King Adrian Hawthorne’s wife. His Queen. He protected me at every turn, elevating me to the highest seat in the kingdom. For a long time, I thought he loved me deeply. Until the news of Victoria’s death in battle reached the capital. Adrian coughed up blood the moment he heard. On his deathbed, he gripped my hand, his voice entirely broken. "The only person I have ever truly loved in this life... is Victoria." "The life she wanted, I couldn't give her from this throne. I had to let her go." "Promising to protect you was the only thing I could do for her." His final request was for me to bury Victoria in the royal cemetery, right beside him. Only then did I understand. The glory and favor I had received for half my life was nothing but his twisted way of compensating for losing her. When I opened my eyes again, Victoria was smiling, pushing the Royal Consort eligibility papers across the table toward me. "Claire, do you want to enter the selection? To become the King's Official Consort?"