Chapter 1

On the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, my uncle, King Joshua Lancaster, placed the names of several princes before me and told me to choose one as my husband.

Without a second thought, I picked Prince Richard Lancaster.

Everyone present was stunned.

After all, everyone in the capital knew that I, Camille Hughes, the daughter of Chancellor of the Royal Academy, had been obsessed with Prince Edward Lancaster since I was a girl.

When I was barely a teenager, I once blurted out in front of the King that I would marry no one but Edward.

In my previous life, I got what I wanted and became Edward's wife.

Three days after the wedding, he was already wrapped around my half-sister Renee Hughes.

My mother was furious. She pressed my father to marry Renee off at once, and he did—to one of his students, before anyone could say otherwise.

Edward blamed me. He was convinced I'd schemed behind the scenes. From that day on, he hated me like poison.

From then on, he brought woman after woman into the house. All of them had the same eyes, the same smile as Renee.

He let them mock me, humiliate me, and treat me like dirt.

The day he took the throne, I was slowly poisoned to death.

Given a second chance at life, I decided to stay far away from him and let him have Renee.

But when the King's order was read aloud, naming me as Richard's fiancée? Edward lost his mind and defied the King.

*****

After leaving the Privy Chamber, I didn't expect to bump into Edward.

He looked like he'd just finished his studies, surrounded by a crowd of young nobles.

When they saw me, they all burst out laughing.

One of them sneered, "Camille, you even followed Edward into the palace. If your father found out his daughter had no shame at all, he'd be so mad that he'd never show his face at court again."

Edward just stared at me, his face full of nothing but disgust.

He sneered, "Did you come here just to beg His Majesty to arrange a marriage between us? Let me warn you. Don't do anything stupid without asking me first.

"You've been shamelessly chasing after me for years, making me look bad in front of everyone. As for our marriage, I'll have to discuss it properly with His Majesty."

I knew that look of disgust all too well. Swallowing the bitterness in my chest, I kept my voice steady.

I said, "His Majesty summoned me to the palace for my coming-of-age celebration. It has nothing to do with you."

As soon as I finished speaking, everyone gasped. "Coming-of-age celebration?"

I knew exactly why they were so shocked.

According to the late King's will, the man chosen by the Hughes heiress on her coming of age day would become the next Crown Prince.

What I just said was basically announcing that the future Crown Prince had already been decided.

After the gasps died down, everyone started congratulating Edward.

"Looks like in just a few days, you'll be our new Crown Prince," someone said.

Edward looked smug, but when he looked at me, his voice was laced with sarcasm.

He said, "Camille, you've been chasing after me for years, and now you finally got what you wanted. Bet you're thrilled, aren't you?"

With that, he stepped right up to me and leaned in, lowering his voice so only I could hear.

He said, "I'm not making the same mistakes I made in my previous life. So there's one condition if you want me to marry you.

"On our wedding day, I'll ask His Majesty to grant Renee a lady's title and give her an estate of her own."

A jolt of shock ran through me. I gave him a startled glance.

So he came back from the future too.

Just as I was about to respond, Renee's soft voice called from behind, "Camille."

She walked over gracefully, looking fragile and delicate. Her face was pale.

Edward hurried to her side, concern written all over his face as he gently wrapped his arm around her.

"Renee, what are you doing here in the palace?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

Renee collapsed into his arms, her voice choked with sobs.

"It's Camille's coming-of-age celebration today. I couldn't miss it. I'm feeling weak. I caught a chill, so please don't blame me, Camille," she whimpered softly.

Edward shot me a fierce glare.

"How could you be so inconsiderate? It's just a stupid celebration, and you had to force someone sick to come," he snapped.

With that, he picked Renee up in his arms, carrying her bridal style.

"Renee, let's go to my chambers. I'll send for the royal physician," Edward said, his voice full of concern.

Before leaving, he gave me a cold glare and warned, "Camille, you'd better watch yourself. If you keep acting so overbearing, our marriage will have to be postponed."

Then he hurried off with Renee in his arms, not even sparing me a backward glance.