Chapter 2

King Alexander's face remained unreadable as he said flatly, "Go ahead."

Queen Caroline gave me a worried look, seeming like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

I took a deep breath, pulled out a document I had prepared, and held it up. "I've been married to Prince Edward for three years. I haven't made trouble, but I've also never shared any real feelings with him.

"We can't force love. All it does is make both of us miserable. Today, I respectfully ask for Your Majesties' permission."

I paused and let my gaze drift over Edward's stunned and disbelieving face. "Please allow Prince Edward and me to divorce."

The word "divorce" exploded in the room like a bomb, leaving everyone stunned.

Edward stormed over and grabbed the divorce papers out of my hands. As he unfolded them, the color drained from his face.

My signature was there, along with the Sinclair family seal. This wasn't something I'd decided on a whim. I'd been planning this for a long time.

"Charlotte, how dare you!" He glared at me, his eyes bloodshot, like he wanted to tear me apart. "What am I to you? Is this marriage nothing to you? You think you can walk in and out of my life whenever you feel like it?"

I looked at Edward, utterly unmoved by his outburst. 'I'm not here to negotiate with you, Edward. I'm just informing you.'

After saying that, I ignored him and turned to Alexander once more. "Your Majesty, please grant my request."

The hall went completely silent. Everyone was too stunned to speak.

The crown prince and his wife getting divorced? Nothing like this had ever happened in the history of the Elden Kingdom.

Alexander looked back and forth between Edward and me, his expression impossible to read. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Edward, what's your opinion?"

Edward finally snapped out of it and immediately played the victim, putting all the blame on me. "Father, I won't accept this. Charlotte is out of her mind with jealousy. She openly defied me and caused this scene. Please, you have to take my side."

Grace caught on fast and immediately started crying. "Your Majesty, this is all my fault. Lady Charlotte and His Highness just had a small argument. Please don't take her divorce request seriously."

What a lovely couple. What a sweet show. I watched them with icy indifference, saying nothing.

Caroline finally couldn't hold back. "Charlotte, don't do anything rash. All couples fight sometimes. Edward—"

"Your Majesty," I interrupted her. "This isn't some impulsive decision. Problems like this don't happen overnight. Whatever was between Edward and me is over."

My determination left Caroline at a loss for words.

Alexander studied me carefully. "Charlotte, are you certain about this? The moment you walk out that door, you're no longer the prince's wife. And whatever happens to the Sinclair family from now on, the royal family won't be involved."

My marriage to Edward had never been about love. It was a political arrangement from the start, designed to secure his position as crown prince while keeping my father's military power in check.

By asking for a divorce, I was about to upend the careful balance of political power.

Edward clearly realized this too, and it seemed to give him new backbone as he sneered at me. "Charlotte, don't forget your father is still stationed at the northern frontier. Do you even realize how much trouble your selfish actions today could bring him?"

He thought he could use my father as leverage to make me back down. But he was dead wrong.

I slowly lifted my head, locking eyes with Alexander. "Your Majesty, the Sinclair family has served the crown faithfully for generations.

My father stands guard at the frontier for the people of Elden Kingdom and for your trust, not because of some marriage tie to keep his position safe.

"If you would punish my father just because I ask for a divorce, then it only means your trust in us is gone. And the Sinclair family has no reason to offer blind loyalty anymore."

Those words felt like walking a tightrope, testing exactly how far I could push. Everyone was on edge, worried sick about me.

Edward's face went pale. He never expected me to strike so directly at the heart of the matter. "H-How dare you! Are you threatening King Alexander?"

I didn't even look at him. My focus was entirely on Alexander.

I was taking a gamble, betting on his tolerance and on how much he both feared and needed the Sinclairs.

Time ticked by, every second feeling like an eternity. An enigmatic smile finally appeared on Alexander's face.

A bold statement. No more blind loyalty. He rose slowly to his feet. "Mark is lucky to have a daughter like you. Very well, I will grant your request."

His words echoed through the silent hall.

Edward stood frozen, stunned senseless. He couldn't believe Alexander had actually said yes.