They say the palace never forgets blood. Even after it's washed away, it stains the air—sweet, metallic, and heavy with memory.
That was the scent I grew up with. The day the royal guards dragged my father from the throne room, and the Duke of D'arcy's crest burned to ashes before my eyes.
My family's only sin was loyalty—to the wrong side, according to the palace.
And for that, the crown took everything. Our lands, our name, our lives. All that remained was me, the daughter of a traitor, and the promise I made to the stars that night:
"If the throne demands blood to stay upright, then I'll be the one holding the blade next time."
Years passed. I learned how to bow, smile, and kneel. How to poison with words, not wine. And when the time came, I married the Third Prince, Caylen Eryndor—the quiet one. The forgotten one. The one everyone thought too gentle and had no guts to rule.
It was a contract marriage, at first. He needed a bride to earn legitimacy. I needed a name high enough to touch the crown.
A perfect arrangement of love. No lies. No future.
Or so I thought.
Caylen was... different. He looked at me like I was still human. When the others saw a viper, he saw a woman. Not a fallen noble, not a political tool—just me.
Caylen ruined everything. I spoke of vengeance and power when he spoke of hope.
When I said I would help him survive.... no stand at the top of the succession war, he smiled that soft, hopeless smile. "I don't want to fight them; my brothers are far better than I am."
Who? The first prince who bellows for war and tramples the people's suffering underfoot? The second who schemes like a serpent and wastes nights on revelry?
That was the moment I hated him most. Because the world doesn't change for good men. It eats them alive.
And yet…somewhere along the way, his faith began to infect me. His dreams became my weapon. His ideals, my strategy.
Now, when I look at him, I no longer see the naïve prince I married for revenge. I see the man who could burn this rotten empire to the ground—and rebuild it from the ashes.
The old Emperor's death came close. The throne room reeked of incense and deceit. Every noble waited to sink their teeth into the corpse of the realm. And in the middle of that chaos stood Caylen—my husband, my goal, and my only weakness.
He was shaking. Not from fear, but from grief. He knew once the Emperor passed, even before the funeral was over, everyone would be at his throat.
I reached for his hand beneath the folds of silk."Listen to me," I whispered, my voice low and calm. "Do not speak unless I tell you. Do not act unless I say so."
Confusion flickered in those gentle eyes, but without hesitation, he trusted me. "You sound like you're going to war."
"I am," I said. "Every smile in this palace is a blade."
When the council demanded who would stand for the Third Prince, I stepped forward before the whispers could devour him.
"We will be parting now."
The hall went silent. A fallen duke's daughter. A woman of scandal. They expected me to cower. I didn't.
"I stand for the prince who still believes this empire can be saved," I thought. "And if you doubt his strength…"I smiled. "Then you've clearly underestimated his queen."
The laughter that followed was sharp enough to cut. But that was fine. I'd been bleeding for years.
That night, beneath the flickering candlelight of the council chamber, I sealed the first pact . Gold for silence. Secrets for loyalty. Blood for power.
Every noble who mocked us today would kneel tomorrow. Every insult would become a stepping stone to his crown.
And if I had to burn the entire royal line to make it happen—so be it.
Caylen believed in goodness. I believed in him.
As dawn bled into the horizon, he found me still awake, maps and letters scattered across the table."You haven't slept," he murmured.
"How could I?" I said, without looking up."The game has begun."
He came closer, his hand brushing mine."Evelyn," he whispered, "why are you doing all this?"
For a long moment, I said nothing. Then I turned to him with a tired smile.
"Because I want to see you win."I paused."And because when you do… I'll finally see them fall."
When he kissed me then, it was both a blessing and a curse. Because in that moment, I knew—I was no longer fighting for vengeance. I was fighting with it.
And one day, when he sat upon that throne, he'd realize the truth I could never say aloud:
He was never my revenge. He was my redemption.
Outside, thunder rolls across the dawn.Inside, the board is set.
Let them laugh.Let them play.Because in this empire of kings and cowards—I am the queen who makes the first move.