The coldness of the dungeon crept up through the thin prison uniform like a venomous snake, gnawing at the bone marrow. But this cold touch was far less than one ten-thousandth of the chill in my heart. The air was filled with mold and rust - a mixture of dried bloodstains and the sweet, fishy smell of my fresh wounds, creating a sickening sense of despair.
The rough iron chain shackled my wrist and pressed my body firmly against the cold stone wall. I had already exhausted all my strength, and even the movement of raising my head seemed extremely difficult.
The heavy prison door let out a shrill, toothy creaking sound, and a long figure pulled by torches fell onto the filthy ground.
It's not Seren. That man was so cowardly that he didn't dare to look directly at the destruction he had single-handedly caused at the last moment.
The person who came was the most loyal mastiff of the monarchy, the shardest knife in the king's hand.
Duke of the North, Kellan Vance.
He walked in with the precise and quiet steps of a predator. The black armor seemed to be able to devour the already faint light in the dungeon, making him look like a moving abyss. His face was cold and hard as if carved from granite, with no expression at all. Only those ice-gray eyes, in the shadow of the flickering flames, seemed to flash a barely perceptible trace... Things. It's not pity. Or regret? No, perhaps that was just a ridiculous illusion I had before I died.
"Elana Viridian," his voice was deep and steady, like the muffled thunder rolling in a tomb, each word striking against my remaining consciousness. By the order of His Majesty King Seron, you have been convicted of treason and adultery. The penalty is the death penalty.
A broken and hoarse sneer squeezed out from my chapped and bleeding lips. Treason? Adultery? These elaborately fabricated charges are so absurd that I don't even have the strength to be angry. The only sin in my life is the pitiful blindness. Blindly believing in her husband's hypocritical love and blindly indulging in the deep sisterly bond meticulously woven by her sister.
"He just..." Hate me so much? I exerted all my strength to squeeze out a voice from my hoarse throat, each word carrying the smell of blood foam. "Hate to the extent that you have to use such a filthy lie to bid me farewell at the end of my life?"
The duke made no reply. He merely silently and slowly drew his long sword. That cold, screeching sound of the steel blade leaving its sheath was the last clear sound I heard in this world.
"Tell me, Duke," the approach of death instead kindled the last shred of my remaining pride. I raised my head, trying to see his face in the shadow, "Be his obedient executioner, your soul..." Wouldn't you feel a bit heavy? Kill a "useless" wife to please a bitch lying in someone else's bed?
I could clearly see that the joints of his fingers holding the hilt of the sword had suddenly turned white due to the force applied. His jawline tightened for a moment.
My duty is to be loyal to the monarchy. His voice was still cold, but it seemed to have an indescribable stiffness.
Your duty is to be loyal to a venomous snake! I shouted with my last bit of strength, tears mixed with the blood on my face sliding down, "He can make you kill me today, and tomorrow he can chop off your claws out of suspicion!" He fears you! One day he will --
"Enough." "
This word is like the final judgment, coldly cutting off all my roars and despair.
He raised his sword. I closed my eyes, no longer praying or looking at him. In my final thoughts, there was no Sauron, only pity for my own extreme stupidity. I once truly loved and trusted without reservation. And this love and trust became the sharp blade that killed me.
In the next second, the world was annihilated by pure, all-tearing pain. That was not an instant end, but rather a torture that seemed to extend infinitely. One could clearly feel the cold metal splitting flesh and blood, crushing bones, and bringing an end to all life...
Then.
It is boundless and warm nothingness.
Perception returns before vision.
The excruciating pain that was enough to tear the soul apart vanished. Instead, it was unbelievable... Soft.
The sense of smell awakens, and the air is filled with the faint fragrance of rose essential oil and lavender, sweet and peaceful. The sense of touch returned. Beneath me was a soft silk bed sheet like brocade. The warm sunlight shone on my arms, bringing a slight itch.
I suddenly opened my eyes wide.
What catches the eye is the familiar, magnificent bed canopy embroidered with intricate family coats of arms. I sat up abruptly and looked around in panic - the huge gilded wardrobe, the velvet dressing table, the floor-to-ceiling Windows bathed in sunlight...
This is my room. At the estate of my father, Duke Viridian. The room I lived in for over a decade before I married Seron and became the queen.
Panic is like ice water poured over the head. I staggered off the bed and rushed to that familiar floor-to-ceiling mirror.
In the mirror, a young girl was staring back at me blankly. The skin is as white as porcelain, untouched by wind and frost, and the cheeks are plump, radiating a soft glow of youth. A pair of emerald eyes were wide open, filled with pure fear and bewilderment. Her thick, chestnut-colored curly hair flows over her shoulders like a waterfall.
This is me. But it was me from ten years ago. That naive and foolish Alana Viridian who was innocent of the world.
"No..." This is impossible... Trembling, I raised my hand and stroked my smooth neck. There were no terrifying wounds, no gushing blood there. The touch from the fingertips was so real that it sent shivers down one's spine. "It's a dream..." It must have been a hallucination before death...
Just then, the bedroom door was knocked lightly and then pushed open.
Good morning, miss! You woke up so early today!
A girl carrying a silver breakfast plate hopped in, her face beaming with a bright, cloudless smile. The round face is dotted with a few cute freckles, and the eyes are as bright as stars.
It's Lisa.
My most loyal maid in my previous life. After I became the queen, she was expelled from the palace by Seron on the ridiculous charge of being "unclean". Later, I learned that she had been secretly executed long ago, simply because she was too loyal to me and got in Celine's way.
She is still alive. Standing right in front of me, breathing and smiling.
A huge and indescribable shock swept over me like a tsunami. I took a sudden step back, held onto the dressing table and managed to stand steadily, my nails almost pinching into the wooden tabletop.
"Li..." "Sha?" My voice is terrifyingly dry.
"It's me, Miss." Lisa was startled by my pale complexion and swaying figure. She quickly put down the tray and ran over, "What's wrong with you?" Did you have a nightmare? The face looks so bad...
Nightmare? Yes, I just woke up from a ten-year nightmare called life.
The coldness of the dungeon, the touch of the iron chain, the cold glint of Kellan's sword blade, Seron's hypocrisy, Celine's sinister smile, and that ultimate pain... All the memories flooded into my mind in a frenzy, as clear as if I were experiencing them again! That's not a dream! That was my previous life!
And nowadays... Fate gave me a second chance.
The initial shock and confusion receded like a tide, revealing a cold and hard reef beneath - a reef forged from countless pains, betrayals and deaths, known as hatred.
A cold force welled up from the deepest part of my heart and instantly spread throughout my limbs and bones. The fear and confusion in the girl's eyes in the mirror quickly faded away, replaced by a deep and bone-chilling coldness that had accumulated for ten years. A nearly distorted smile slowly crept up the corner of my mouth. This expression appeared on this innocent and naive face, looking so strange and terrifying.
"Lisa," I began, my voice so calm that even I was surprised. It was a kind of deathly silence after experiencing extreme despair. "What day is it today?"
"Huh?" Today is the fifteenth day of the Flower Moon Spring, Miss!" Although Lisa was puzzled, she still answered obediently, trying to lighten the atmosphere, "Have you forgotten?" Today is a big day! The royal palace will arrive at our manor this afternoon to start the summer retreat! There will be a grand welcome dance party in the evening! All the handsome noblemen and beautiful young ladies will attend. It is said that His Highness Crown Prince Seron will also come! You are sure to amaze everyone!"
Lisa said excitedly, her cheeks flushed.
The fifteenth day of the Spring of the Flower Moon. Royal ball. Seren. Celine
All the key points instantly connected into lines in my mind.
Yes, I remember. It was at this ball that Seron showed me a strong interest for the first time, while my "good sister" Celine was desperately egging me on, pushing me into the abyss leading to power and destruction.
My fingertips were deeply embedded in the palm of my hand, and the sharp pain that came made me extremely alert.
They are coming soon. today.
All right.
Let this grand ball serve as the opening stage of my revenge drama.
I let go of my hand and finally took a look at the self in the glasses that was both familiar and strange. That timid and naive Elana has already died in the dungeon. Standing here now are the Avengers who have crawled back from hell.
"Yes, Lisa," I turned around, a smile that met her expectations, slightly shy and expectant, perfectly concealing the surging ice tide in my eyes. "This is truly..." An exciting and wonderful day."
Let's get well prepared.
"The game has begun."