Chapter 2

I glanced back and found Amelia rooted to the spot.

She glared after us, her face warped with jealousy and her jaw clenched hard enough to crack a tooth.

Then the fury drained from her face. She thought she knew how this story ended.

In our previous life, the northern clans had revolted on our wedding day! As the legitimate heir, Draco had been forced to ride for the front at once.

He had left before the vows were even over. A month later, he was dead, and his body had never been found!

Amelia had to be laughing inside. Enjoy it while it lasts, Elena. Soon you'll be the pathetic widow!

When the time came to prepare for the weddings, Amelia and Lysander started causing trouble at every turn.

Because Draco was busy with official duties and frequently had to visit military camps to deploy troops, he couldn't attend many public events with me.

To Amelia, that proved Draco was as selfish and cold as ever, unwilling to grant me even the bare minimum of courtesy in public.

A few days later, the shifter nobility gathered for a reception.

Amelia curled against Lysander and made sure her voice carried. "Oh, Elena. Alone again?"

"Prince Draco doesn't even bother showing up for you? Is it because you don't know how to please a man?"

I gave her one cold look and raised my teacup without a word.

She took my silence for guilt and grew even more smug, deliberately tugging at her collar to reveal the telltale red marks covering her neck.

"What can anyone expect, Elena? You walk around with that frozen expression and not an ounce of feminine charm."

"A warrior like Prince Draco must be so disappointed in you. That's why he always leaves you all alone."

Her voice climbed higher and sharper with every word, determined to reach the entire room. "Just look at how gentle and attentive Prince Lysander is with me! Tell me, Elena, has Draco even touched you yet?"

The social-climbing nobles around her rushed to pile on.

"Prince Lysander truly is the perfect husband! He's so devoted to Lady Amelia!"

"Exactly. Lady Elena just can't hold on to her man. She deserves to be neglected."

"If you can't even keep your own man's heart, you're destined to spend your married life alone!"

Their cruelty almost made me laugh.

They had no idea that on the night of our engagement, Draco had climbed through my window.

Draco, the ruthless heir everyone feared, had crouched beside my bed like a wounded puppy.

He took my hand, his expression utterly serious. "Elena, something is stirring in the North. I'm swamped, and I won't be able to see you every day."

"My entire guard is yours to command. No one will dare mistreat you!"

My heart had skipped when I realized I was the only person he could see.

In my previous life, the cowardly Lysander had only ever bullied me to my face while cowering from everyone else.

But Draco had put the sharpest blade in my hands and told me to protect myself.

I dragged myself back to the present.

I looked at the still-arrogant Lysander and Amelia standing before me, and I rose to my feet.

Slam!

I slammed my palm onto the table. "Amelia, who the hell do you think you are?!"

The entire room went silent. Everyone was stunned by the force of my presence.

I stared her down. "I am the legitimate heir's fiancee. I am your future Queen! You dare slander me in public? That is an insult to the crown, and you will be punished for it!"

Amelia flinched, but Lysander was still trying to put on a brave face, playing the peacemaker. "Elena, Amelia was just being honest. Why do you have such a temper..."

"Shut up!" I raised my hand. "Guards!"

In the next instant, several of Draco's elite guards appeared out of nowhere and hit the banquet-hall floor with a bone-rattling crash!

"Pin these two down!"

The guards surged forward. One of them kicked Lysander's legs out from under him!

Crash! Crash!

A moment ago, Lysander and Amelia had looked untouchable. Now they were pinned facedown on the floor like two beaten dogs!

"Let me go! I have royal blood!" Lysander screamed.

Amelia's hair was a mess, and she shrieked over and over. "Elena, you psycho! How dare you do this to me!"

I looked down at them. "Apologize, Lysander, or neither of you leaves this room on your feet!"

Lysander was drenched in cold sweat from the pain. He knew the guards answered only to Draco, and they wouldn't hesitate to kill him.

At last, he lowered his head, humiliation burning through him as he forced the words between clenched teeth. "I'm sorry... Your Highness."

I smiled without warmth. "Get out!"