Chapter 3

"His Majesty said you'd only drink coffee from me, and only I could deliver a fatal blow! I didn't want to, but I had to think about the lives of the entire Sykes family..." Lindsay sobbed, her tears falling like rain.

She then casually threw the blame right at me.

"Is it true?" Esteban asked me.

I wasn't bothered. "You should've seen this coming."

He was furious. "Madisyn! How could you be so despicable as to threaten your own Queen into doing something so shameless?"

I grinned at Lindsay. "Did you hear that? Shameless... Ha! Esteban, I like that!"

Lindsay's face went white as a sheet, and she buried her head deeper into Esteban's chest.

My nonchalant attitude completely infuriated Esteban. "Madisyn!"

I wiped the smile off my face. "Esteban, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about me? You really think I enjoy being cuckolded?"

I tossed the blame right back at Lindsay.

Esteban was stunned, and Lindsay froze.

"Esteban, don't listen to her! You've got to believe me. I'd never hurt you, not on purpose!" Lindsay cried out.

I lounged back on the royal throne, watching Lindsay with a satisfied look.

She was the one who'd slept with Esteban and then stabbed him in the back. I was dying to see how she'd talk her way out of this mess.

Esteban was clearly thrown for a loop.

I decided to throw another bombshell his way.

"Esteban, you got involved with my Queen. So, tell me, how do you think I should deal with you? If your men found out you dragged them into a war over a woman, wasted lives and resources just to take Stormburg, and then swallowed your pride and called off the fight just for her, what would they think of you?" I taunted.

Esteban didn't answer. His expression was a mess of emotions.

After he left, I turned to Lindsay. "Thank you for handing me the perfect dirt on him. Stirring up trouble in the royal harem. Let's see if he can handle that kind of scandal!"

Lindsay was both shocked and scared. "Are you... a monster?"

I shot her a grin. "You're joking. A monster? That's way too weak to describe my brilliance and power."

Lindsay was never the type to just roll over and take it. That same day, she claimed she was sick and moved straight into Ethereal Hall.

Ethereal Hall was actually a church. Back in the last dynasty, some useless emperor fell for a married woman. Since he couldn't chase her openly, he made her become a nun to cut off all her worldly attachments.

He even built Ethereal Hall just for her.

Lindsay's intentions couldn't be clearer. She was dead set on breaking things off with me, so she could openly get back together with Esteban later on.

She even handed over control of the royal harem to her sworn enemy, Eliza Barrett.

Three years ago, she was a living legend, stunning beyond compare, the most adored woman in the palace.

I went all out, squandering resources and exhausting the people just to build her the Azure Pavilion by Obsidian Pond. It soared to the stars above and gathered all the beauty below.

She had no powerful family to rely on, but I showered her with so much favor that no one dared to offend her.

But in the end, I still ended up neglecting her, all because she was always scheming to climb onto my royal throne.

Lindsay had always seen her as a thorn in her side, so why would she suddenly put her in charge of the entire harem?

Was it just to make it easier for her to climb onto my royal throne, so I'd never have a moment's peace?

I was pretty sure that was the real reason!

That night, Eliza showed up at the Hall of Dominion with a bowl of broth. I just took a casual sip or two, lit the calming incense like I always did, and before long, she was out cold.

I knew what she was up to, but I didn't kick her out. For one, I wanted to cement her status as my top favorite. For another, I needed her around to cover up any rumors about my... performance in certain departments.

When I woke up in the middle of the night, jolted by a nightmare, I found myself resting my head on her lap. She was gently running her fingers through my hair, her enchanting gaze could steal your soul.

"Your Majesty, did you have another nightmare?" Eliza asked softly.

Ever since Esteban marched his troops, I've been haunted by nightmares of him killing me.

Sometimes he'd shoot me full of arrows.

Sometimes he'd butcher me, leaving me a mangled mess.

Or I'd get ripped apart by five horses.

Every gruesome way to die you could think of had played out in my dreams.

But ever since I found out I was pregnant, my nightmares had been stuck on repeat.

I kept dreaming I'm running barefoot through a wild, open plain, with a demon chasing me down.

Then, out of nowhere, Esteban showed up and plunges his sword right through my heart.

He gave a sinister chuckle. "You dare steal my bloodline?"

Holding my throbbing head, I sat up. "When did you wake up?"

"Just now, Your Majesty. Are you heading to the morning assembly today? Want me to help you get dressed?" Eliza asked.

I didn't answer. As she helped me into my clothes, it hit me she was now half a head taller than me.

"Sweetheart, did you get taller again?" I teased.

Eliza smiled. "All thanks to you, Your Majesty."

On the fifth day after Lindsay moved into Ethereal Hall, Esteban set foot in the palace for the very first time.

And that was the day someone tried to assassinate me.