Chapter 1
Prince Edward Lancaster's birthday party was packed with guests.
In front of everyone, he pointed at his precious cousin Grace and ordered me, his wife, to apologize and beg for her forgiveness. All because Grace Sutton twisted her ankle, and I just happened to be standing nearby.
Edward said, "Charlotte, Grace is delicate. Beg for her forgiveness, and we'll call it even."
Behind me, my maid Rose was trembling with anger, but I just smiled.
I had been married to Edward for three years, helping him navigate politics and win over the army.
My father, Mark Sinclair, commanded three hundred thousand soldiers guarding the Elden Kingdom's borders.
My brother, William Sinclair, ran the High Court and had a reputation for cracking even the toughest cases.
And now, Edward wanted me to beg his precious little love in public.
I straightened up slowly, looked him right in the eye, and said firmly, "Edward, I want a divorce."
He was stunned. The whole hall went dead silent.
Edward thought I was bluffing and that I was just trying to get under his skin.
It wasn't until I brought it up with King Alexander that Edward finally started to panic. By then, it was already too late.
Not long after, he showed up outside my place, his eyes red and swollen. He begged, "Lottie. Queen Charlotte. Please, just come and see me one more time."
*****
"Charlotte, apologize." Edward's voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the entire hall.
The music and laughter that had filled the room just moments ago vanished in an instant, leaving a heavy silence.
Every eye in the hall was fixed on me. Some looked at me with pity, some with mockery, and some were clearly enjoying the show.
I stood there, staring at Grace across the hall. She was fragile with tears, looking like she might break at any moment.
Edward hovered protectively beside her, shielding her from the crowd. Her ankle was swollen and red, and honestly, she looked genuinely miserable.
"Your Highness, please don't blame Lady Charlotte. It was my own carelessness." Grace's voice cracked as she fought back tears. But instead of easing the tension, her words only made Edward angrier.
Edward's arm tightened around her, and his gaze toward me grew even colder. "You pushed her. Grace never lies," he snapped.
"I didn't push her," I replied flatly and calmly.
Edward let out a cold laugh, disgust written all over his face. "Charlotte, is your jealousy really this out of hand? And you're still going to deny it in front of all the officers and me?"
I looked at him and couldn't help but find it amusing. Everything I'd done for him these three years, and all he could call me was jealous.
My father Mark shed blood and fought in the north, holding the borders for him.
My brother William argued fiercely with the scholars and officials in court, removing his political enemies.
As Edward's wife, I had managed his household flawlessly without a single misstep.
I thought that even without love between us, at the very least, there should have been respect.
But I was wrong. There was not even the barest shred of respect.
"Let me make this clear one more time: I didn't push her," I said. "If you don't believe me, summon the servants or inspect the floor yourself."
My calmness only seemed to piss him off even more. Edward's voice cut me off without hesitation. "Enough! I said apologize to Grace and beg for her forgiveness. I'm ordering you."
He practically spat out the word "order," his voice heavy with authority.
In his arms, Grace smiled quietly, triumph flickering in her eyes.
I caught it. And I also caught the ruthless resolve in Edward's eyes.
He was dead set on humiliating me today. For his precious Grace, he would happily stomp my dignity into the dirt.
Rose, my maid, was shaking with rage behind me and started to step forward to defend me.
I reached out and caught her arm, holding her steady.
"Lady Charlotte, I—" Rose looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.
I shook my head, signaling her to stop.
Then I lifted my gaze and met Edward's cold stare. "Edward," I said, my voice steady. For the first time, I used his name. No title, no formalities. Just his name.
His brows drew together, clearly displeased with how I addressed him. "How dare you!"
I ignored his fury and let out a small laugh. The sound rang through the silent hall, crisp and clear.
"Your Highness, you want me to beg her?" I pointed straight at Grace and asked, slow and deliberate. "She's some orphan with no title. I'm the crown prince's wife and a general's daughter.
"Since when does a person like that deserve to be begged by me?"
Immediately, gasps swept through the hall.
Edward's face turned livid. "Charlotte, are you insane?"
"I'm not the crazy one." I met his gaze, my voice flat and steady. "You are. You're willing to humiliate your wife, alienate the Sinclair family, and make yourself a laughingstock across the entire kingdom, all for one woman.
"Edward, you're really something. What a crown prince."
Every word hit him right where it hurt.
Edward stood frozen, his face reddening to an almost purple shade of fury. The meek Charlotte he thought he knew would never dare speak to him like this.
Grace burst into louder tears at the scene. "Your Highness, it's all my fault. Lady Charlotte didn't mean it. Please don't be mad at her."
The more she spoke, the angrier Edward grew.
"Shut up. You have no right to speak here." I shot Grace a cold, dismissive glare.
She froze, her tears stopping dead.
I turned away from them and bowed respectfully to Alexander and Queen Caroline, who were seated at the head of the hall. "Your Majesty, I need to speak with you."