Chapter 2

Once the maid had passed along the order, she quickly left.

The people around me had always treated me like the plague, keeping their distance as if I were some kind of monster. Yesterday, they'd all watched as a blade pierced straight through my body, only for me fs avwo txrt de ilbo wlacneiszvij.

Anyone would find it strange, especially those closest to Martin and me.

I forced myself to get dressed and put on my makeup, then hurried to the Queen Dowager's palace, only to be made to kneel outside as punishment for missing the appointed hour.

For two whole hours, I knelt under the scorching sun. Just as I was about to pass out, someone finally brought me inside.

The Queen Dowager and Martin sat side by side, while Rosie stood beside them. All three looked down at me as I knelt on the floor.

Martin frowned. "What happened to you? Why do you look like this?"

I could already imagine how pathetic I must look. Coming back to life over and over again wasn't without a price. The price was this body's own life force.

I was drenched in sweat, and the lipstick I'd been wearing was now patchy from biting my lips. Mortified, I replied, "I've been feeling unwell. I'm sorry you had to see me like this, Your Majesties."

The words had barely left my mouth when the Queen Dowager's stern voice rang out from above. "Just look at yourself. Is that any way for a queen to look? If Martin weren't so dead set on you, I would never have let you become queen.

"As the queen, you should know how to conduct yourself. You followed Martin into battle and had him wrapped around your little finger. Even your younger sister carries herself more like a proper lady than you do."

Her scorn and contempt pierced my heart like a thousand arrows. I looked up at Martin, hoping he'd speak up for me. But he avoided my pleading gaze.

Meanwhile, the Queen Dowager looked at Rosie with unmistakable approval.

Rosie glanced shyly at the man beside her, dressed in a gold-colored robe, before lowering her head bashfully.

Had they all just forgotten that I'd come from a family of military commanders and had trained in martial arts since childhood?

Back when no one believed Martin had what it took to claim the throne, I'd endured everyone's insults and ridicule to take command of an army despite being a woman.

I'd protected him and the Queen Dowager from threats both inside and outside the palace, shielding them from one assassination attempt after another.

After my first death, the Queen Dowager held my hand and said with tears in her eyes, "If my ungrateful son ever lets you down, I'll disown him myself."

I died a second time after drinking the poison meant for Martin. Back then, the Queen Dowager had been nothing more than a lowly mistress. She'd knelt before me and thanked me for saving his life. But now, they'd forgotten everything.

Before I could dwell on it any longer, the Queen Dowager spoke. "Enough. Come over here and serve the tea already. Do you have any idea what time it is?"

I took the teacup and stepped forward to offer it to her.

But just as I was about to get on my knees, I noticed Rosie standing right beside the Queen Dowager, apparently intending to receive the same honor.

"You don't mind me standing here, do you? Her Majesty specifically granted me the privilege of sharing this honor with her…"

Rosie placed heavy emphasis on the word specifically, acting as though she'd been forced into this.

Martin quickly cut in, "That's enough. I have important matters to attend to. Just serve the tea and stop upsetting my mother."

He clearly wanted me to get it over with as quickly as possible, barely bothering to hide his impatience.

With no other choice, I knelt before both the Queen Dowager and Rosie and held out the cup. "Please have some tea, Your Majesty."

After a long pause, the Queen Dowager finally took the cup. She took a displeased sip before setting it down with a loud thud.

"You're not outside the palace anymore, so you'll need to learn proper court etiquette and perform your duty to continue the royal bloodline.

"You've been by Martin's side for ages, yet you still haven't gotten pregnant. You need to give him a son as soon as possible."

At the mention of children, my mind went blank for a moment. I'd once been pregnant. It had happened not long after Martin and I got married. But our child…

At the thought, I looked up and caught the smug expression on Rosie's face. Rosie was the reason I'd lost my child.