Chapter 1

The Queen, Victoria Sinclair, and I were rivals all our lives.

The first time around, I used the fact that I bore the King's only heir to bring Victoria down.

But before my son, Edward Sinclair, took the throne, he offered me a rope to hang myself.

He looked at me coldly and said, "Mother, the kind of woman I despise most is one who schemes like you."

I died filled with hatred.

Then I traveled back in time and got a second chance, so I stopped fighting. I sent Edward to be raised by Victoria.

If he thought I was too calculating and preferred a military-bred woman like her as his mother, then so be it. I would sever our bond.

Yet on the eve of his coronation, news came that Victoria had died suddenly.

That same night, my "gentle" son had poison forced down my throat.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment the King asked if I would consent to register Edward under Victoria's name.

I looked at Edward, who stood there with his head bowed, felt a chill run through me, and answered at once, "I agree."

"I do not," another voice cut in.

The palace doors swung open, and Victoria rushed inside.

I stared at her in shock and saw the same fear reflected in her eyes.

In that instant, we both knew that we had traveled back in time once more.

Henry Sinclair, the king, shifted his gaze between Victoria and me, his brow slightly furrowed.

He could understand Victoria suddenly refusing. Her resentment toward me extended to anything connected to me.

But after giving birth to Edward, I was unable to have any more children.

He knew how much I cherished Edward and expected I would fight tooth and nail to keep him.

To his surprise, I agreed immediately.

In my first life, I really did refuse and even threatened to end my own life to make my point.

Everyone knew Victoria was the person I hated most.

She was the one who made me drink a bowl of poisonous liquid after I gave birth, ruining my body so I could never have another child.

But I wasn't about to let her get away with it. I drugged her too and destroyed her chances of ever becoming a mother.

And then she actually wanted to snatch my child away from me.

I'd rather die than let my son recognize my enemy as his mother.

Henry couldn't force me to give in. With my father, the all-powerful prime minister, backing me up, he had no choice but to let me have my way.

But that only made me hate Victoria even more. I clashed with her and her camp of generals, and in the end, we both ended up wrecked.

After Victoria was deposed, I thought that once Edward took the throne, I'd finally be the queen dowager.

But I never expected to die at the hands of my own son.

I remembered the suffocating grip of the rope around my neck and his icy words ringing in my ears.

He said, "A woman as venomous as you could never be worthy of being my mother."

When I was still in a haze, Henry turned to Edward, who stood quietly with his head bowed. "Edward, what do you think?" asked Henry.

Edward looked up, his voice gentle and obedient. "I'll let you, Her Majesty, and mother make the decision."

In my first life, he gave the same answer. I thought he was just too timid to defy Henry in front of everyone.

But later, I realized he never cared about me.

The so-called mother-son bond? It was nothing but a myth.

After living through two lifetimes, I knew exactly what was going on in Henry's head.

He always saw himself as a wise ruler, never distracted by women. His only concubine was me.

Now that he was getting older, and Edward was his sole heir, it was only natural he'd want to clear the path for Edward.

If Edward was officially listed as Victoria's son, he'd become the legitimate Crown Prince, giving Henry leverage to balance or even win over both the civil and military factions.

My family led the civil officials, with powerful connections on our side. Victoria's clan controlled the army, and they were a force to be reckoned with.

Victoria and I entered the palace together when we were just kids, and neither of us ever backed down from a fight.

I used to call her Vee the Viper, and she'd call me Julie-Belle.

It was all just petty squabbles until she poisoned me while I was recovering after giving birth. That was when things really got ugly between us.

I shot a look at Victoria, remembering that she'd gone along with it in my previous life.

It didn't matter now. I just needed to stay alive.

"Your Majesty, I'm willing to let Edward be listed as Victoria's son and have her raise him. It hurts to let him go, but I'm doing this for his sake. Parents have to think ahead for their children," I said.

As I spoke, my eyes brimmed with tears.

My words hit Henry right in the heart. He was clearly moved and said, "In that case..."

"Your Majesty, I do not agree," Victoria cut in, giving me a glare. She'd always hated that two-faced act of mine, pretending to be all innocent and pitiful.

"Lady Juliana and Edward share such a strong bond. How could I be the one to break them apart? I won't be the villain here," she added.