Chapter 1
The day the imperial decree arrived, Adriana and I knelt in the hall, listening as the royal messenger read it aloud.
"His Majesty has decreed that one daughter of the Garrison family shall become the Crown Princess, and the other shall marry General Hurst. Lady Charlotte, you may choose first," he announced.
Last time, I had accepted the crown with joy, marrying the Crown Prince, Isaac Goodwin, in a grand ceremony.
Adriana, on the other hand, was sent away in a small carriage to the borderlands, where she was wed to the infamous "King of Hell," Melvin Hurst, a man everyone feared.
Less than three years later, tragic news arrived from the borderlands that Melvin had fallen on the battlefield.
Adriana became a widow, and I brought her back to Frakerto, but she soon died of grief.
The night Isaac ascended the throne, he imprisoned me and forced me to drink poisoned wine every day.
With bloodshot eyes, he demanded, "Why was it you who became Empress? You ruined Adriana's life, forcing her to marry a brute, and now she's left a widow while still so young!
"If she had married me, she would have been the most exalted woman in the land.
"You stole the life that should have been hers, and now you'll pay for it with your own! Let her watch from heaven and see just how much you suffer!"
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the imperial decree arrived.
I gazed at the Crown Princess's token of betrothal, the emblem of highest honor, then thanked His Majesty.
I spoke each word with unwavering clarity. "I admire General Hurst's valor and wish to marry him to guard the borderlands for our country. I will never regret this choice."
*****
"Charlotte, have you really thought this through?" Adriana's voice trembled like a leaf caught in the wind, disbelief clear in her eyes.
She cried, "That's General Melvin Hurst, the infamous King of Hell. He kills without blinking an eye!
"The Crown Prince is gentle and defined. He's the one who truly suits you."
She took my hand with such heartfelt concern, acting like she truly had my best interests at heart.
Back then, she tried to persuade me just like this.
I chose Isaac, and she put on a show of helplessness as she was carried off in a small carriage to the borderlands.
But it wasn't until I was dying that I learned she and Isaac had been having an affair behind my back for years, their feelings for each other running deep.
Her trip to the borderland was part of their plan. They made sure I became Empress without suspecting so she could take my place later.
I gently pulled my hand away, dodging her touch.
"Adriana, you're kidding. Marrying a legendary hero like General Hurst was a blessing for me," I replied.
The royal messenger on the dais froze, his smile stiffening awkwardly.
My father, the prime minister, was so shocked that he nearly fell out of his chair.
"Charlotte! What nonsense is this?" A furious voice rang out from outside.
Isaac, the Crown Prince, strode in wearing his imperial robes, his face dark with anger.
He must have heard the news and rushed over, expecting to see me happily choose him.
But instead, he was greeted by my shocking defiance.
"Charlotte, do you even know what you're saying?" Isaac demanded.
He marched right up to me, towering over me, his eyes blazing with indignation at my audacity.
"I'm giving you one more chance to change your mind," Isaac declared, his voice echoing through the hall.
I lifted my chin and met his eyes head-on, those same eyes that once made me fall so hard, burning with ruthless intensity.
"I've made my decision," I said, my voice steady and unwavering.
"You!" Isaac sputtered, his handsome face turning crimson with rage.
Seeing the situation, Adriana hurriedly knelt before Isaac, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gazed up at him with pitiful eyes.
"Your Highness, mercy. Charlotte just momentarily lost her senses, perhaps misled by some malicious gossip. She would never intentionally disrespect you," Adriana pleaded.
She paused, biting her lip, acting as if she was sacrificing herself for my sake.
"Since Charlotte admires General Hurst, then I am willing to enter the Royal Palace in her stead. I only ask that Your Highness not hold this against her," Adriana said, her voice trembling with emotion.
What a perfect little angel she pretended to be.
Isaac got swayed by her act. His fury faded, replaced by a hint of sympathy.
He helped Adriana up, but when his gaze landed on me again, it was nothing but icy contempt.
He sneered at me. "Good. Very good.
"You asked for this, Charlotte.
"A clueless, shameless woman like you? You and that roughneck general are a match made in hell!"
He swept out of the hall, leading Adriana away. She shot me a quick, smug look over her shoulder, her triumph written all over her face.
The royal messenger finally snapped back to reality, cleared his throat, and handed the crown to Adriana. Then he passed me the command token that marked me as the general's bride.
I accepted it with both hands, and as the cold metal pressed against my skin, an unexpected calm settled over me.
The Garrison family was sending one daughter to the Royal Palace and the other off to the distant borderlands. Two weddings that should have been worlds apart.
Just a few days later, everyone started to notice something strange.
Gifts from the Royal Palace flooded the Garrison family's house, filling up half the storeroom with rare treasures, sparkling jewels, and luxurious silks, all so flashy that it was almost blinding.
Adriana strutted around me every day, dripping in jewels and fancy silks. She pretended she was just there to chat, but really, she was dying to rub Isaac's affection in my face.
Adriana bragged, "Charlotte, check out this night pearl from Witina Sea. His Highness had it specially brought for me. He said my eyes sparkle just like this pearl.
"And look at this silk. His Highness said only someone like me is worthy of such fine fabric."