Chapter 1

In my previous life, my elder sister Victoria Wynn had forced me to marry Edward Langley, the disgraced crown prince exiled to a remote borderland, all so she could become Henry Langley, the reigning Crown Prince's wife.

Yet, no one could have foreseen the tyranny that would consume Henry once he took the throne. In less than three years, Victoria was cruelly mutilated.

Edward, on the other hand, had spent those years training his army on the frontier. He marched back to the capital, reclaimed the throne, and I became his queen, honored by the whole realm.

He not only gave me his undivided devotion but also promised to love me for all eternity.

With a second chance in life, the moment the royal edict was announced, Victoria cried before the throne and begged the king to grant her the marriage.

She wept prettily, claiming she had long held deep affection for Edward and was willing to accompany him into exile and endure all hardship.

The king, Alexander Langley, granted her wish.

As she walked past me, she leaned in and whispered with a wild, triumphant smile, "Dear sister, this unbelievable wealth and glory is mine at last. You go and wait on that tyrant instead."

I was about to speak when Edward shot me a look of pure disgust. He took Victoria's hand and said sharply, "Pay no mind to this vain, glory-hungry woman. Let's go."

*****

I tore my gaze away, turned, and took the royal decree that appointed me as Crown Princess.

Behind me, Victoria linked arms with Edward, her laughter ringing like wind chimes.

"Edward, look at her. Her face is as white as a sheet. She'll never be able to hold the title of Crown Princess," she teased, her voice dripping with malice.

Edward's tone oozed unmasked doting and contempt. "A woman who only knows how to curry favor with the powerful? Pay her no mind. It's you I feel sorry for, having to accompany me to that frigid borderland."

"To suffer for my man is my greatest joy," Victoria cooed.

They walked away hand in hand, their figures intertwined like a couple who'd defied all odds.

Every noble and minister in the royal court turned their eyes to me. There was sympathy, pity, and a hint of unhidden schadenfreude in their gaze.

Everyone knew the current Crown Prince Henry was cruel, unruly, and unpredictable.

Just a few days prior, a maid had accidentally broken his beloved vase, and he'd ordered her flogged to death on the spot.

Such a man held the title of Crown Prince only because he was the eldest legitimate son, backed by his mother's family, a powerful duke's clan with countless military achievements and control over large armies.

Edward, by contrast, was gentle, modest, and talented. He was once the dream of every noble young lady in the capital.

His downfall came when he clashed with Alexander over a national policy to control river floods, angering the monarch and leading to his demotion and exile to the borderlands.

Everyone thought the Crown Prince's throne would eventually return to Edward.

That was what Victoria had believed in her previous life, too.

So she framed me, manipulated me, and forced me to marry Edward.

She herself married Henry in glory.

Later, when Henry ascended the throne, he mutilated Victoria, torturing her every day for three years.

Edward, biding his time and training his army in the borderlands, finally marched back, seized the throne, and made me his only queen.

He showered me with a lifetime of honor and favor.

This time, with a second chance in life, Victoria had snatched the marriage she thought would bring her unparalleled wealth and power.

She thought she'd stolen the future queen's throne.

However, she had no idea she'd taken a death sentence.

And the violent Crown Prince she'd shunned, the one left for me, was Edward, my true husband from my previous life.

As for the "gentle" Edward? He was actually Henry, Edward's half-brother.

When they were exiled, the two had swapped identities long ago.

When I returned to the Wynn Estate, my mother, Alice Wynn, was already waiting at the door.

The moment she saw me, she grabbed my hand, her face filled with disappointment and frustration.

"Charlotte, how could you be so foolish? That's a deposed Crown Prince! Your sister's lost her mind, but why are you following her lead?

"A perfect opportunity was right in front of you, and you let her snatch it away."

I lowered my eyes, my voice calm. "Mom, she begged for it."

Alice trembled with anger, pointing a finger at me. "She begged, so you let her? Why didn't you fight for it? Why didn't you stop her? You know that was a good marriage.

"How did I raise such a useless child? Now you're stuck serving that madman of a Crown Prince, and you've brought shame to the entire Wynn family!"

My father emerged from his study at the sound of her shouts, his face equally gloomy.

He glanced at me and let out a cold snort. "Enough. It's done, so there's no use complaining.

"Tomorrow, tell her to pack her things and get out to the Crown Prince's Palace before she embarrasses us further in this house."

Victoria followed him, a triumphant smile on her face.

She walked up to me and let out a dramatic sigh, pretending to be sympathetic.

"Charlotte, don't blame Mom and Dad. They're just worried about you. But don't worry. When Edward and I come back, we'll never forget you."

Then she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper only the two of us could hear. "Enjoy your stay at Crown Prince's Palace. Who knows? When I return, I might still find your body intact."

Coldness settled in my chest as I stared at her face, twisted with arrogance.

In my previous life, she'd flaunted her status as Crown Princess in front of me, too, while I'd suffered endlessly on the journey to the borderlands.

Karma had a way of circling back.

This time, it was her turn.

I ignored her provocation, simply saying to my parents, "I understand."

With that, I turned and walked back to my room, leaving Alice's shouts and Victoria's sneers far behind.

I sat in front of my mirror, staring at the young face reflected there.

It was identical to mine in my previous life, but inside, a broken soul resided.

In my previous life, after Edward ascended the throne, he'd held me in his arms, tracing my features over and over.

He'd said, "Charlotte, I'm so glad it's you. If it were Victoria, I'm afraid I'd kill her with my own hands."

Back then, I'd taken it as a love confession, moved to tears.

Now, I realized how many secrets lay hidden in that sentence.

The violent "Henry" and the gentle "Edward".

One mask, two faces.

What were they plotting?

And here I was, dragged into this mess again. This time, I wouldn't be a pawn to be manipulated.