Chapter 1

Mirelle's POV

On the day the kingdom fell, I, the High Consort, willingly surrendered myself to the enemy’s Border Garrison.

I agreed to be treated as a warhorse.

All of it, just to keep my husband safe.

They branded my skin and threw me into the warhorse stables.

I ate and slept beside the beasts.

For three whole years, the endless taming and humiliation stripped away every memory of who I used to be.

Whenever the warhorses stamped their hooves and neighed, my knees would automatically hit the dirt, and I would stretch my neck upward.

I even learned to chew on the wild frostbane herbs growing on the slopes, just like the old warhorses did, trying to numb the agonizing stomach cramps caused by eating fodder.

I endured it all, praying they would honor their word.

Then came the day of the garrison victory feast.

I was dragged out of the stables.

But instead of an enemy commander, I saw my husband standing before me, clad in brilliant crimson armor.

"There was no fall of the kingdom," Caspian Arden, Sovereign of Veyra, said smoothly. "It was all a lie."

"You were too arrogant back then. You injured Lysette's favorite horse, so I sent you to this garrison to break your temper. To teach you how to be obedient."

"If you finally understand your mistakes, I will officially crown you as my Queen."

I froze.

Violent tremors wracked my body.

Three years of hell... all for a ridiculous punishment.

I pressed my forehead heavily against the dirt. "A broken slave like me has been used and discarded by countless men."

"How could I possibly bear the weight of a queen's crown? I beg you, Sire. Choose someone else."

Caspian furrowed his brow, clearly displeased. "You were just here to learn a lesson. Are you really spinning such vile lies just to spite me?"

I kept my head down, kneeling meekly at his boots.

"I'm not lying. I am nothing but a filthy slave, no longer fit to serve you, Your Majesty."

His eyes narrowed, his tone dripping with impatience.

"I know Lysette gave the garrison strict orders. No one would dare touch you."

"Sure, the conditions were a bit rough, but there's no need to put on this pathetic act. Don't tell me you're trying to accuse her of tampering with my orders again?"

Panic seized me.

I immediately slammed my head back down to the dirt. "A slave like me wouldn't dare."

He stared at me for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Fine. Seeing how well-behaved you are now, I won't hold this against you. It seems these three years of discipline weren't a total waste."

"I've already ordered the servants to completely renovate Queenshall for you. As long as you stop making trouble for Lysette, you can move in the moment we return to the Royal Palace."

He reached out a hand to help me up.

But the second his fingertips brushed my arm, I violently jerked backward, scrambling away like a spooked foal.

Caspian’s face instantly darkened. "Do not test my patience, Mirelle."

But his voice was already fading into a distant ringing in my ears.

The burning agony in my stomach felt like a giant, invisible hand twisting my insides. Just drawing a breath was pure torture.

Ignoring his rising fury, I dropped to all fours and crawled frantically toward the bottom of the slope.

I didn't care about being Queen.

I didn't care about honor or glory.

Right now, I only wanted to eat that frostbane herb to stop the pain.

I had barely lowered my head when Caspian yanked me back by the shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing? That weed is poisonous!"

I ripped myself from his grip.

Ignoring the shocked stares of the surrounding soldiers, I threw myself onto the dirt and frantically chewed the leaves.

Slowly, the agonizing fire in my stomach began to fade.

Caspian glared down at me, his brow heavily creased.

"Mirelle Veren, you are the future Queen. You carry noble blood. Look at the state of you."

"If you really want to threaten me by trying to kill yourself, I have no problem leaving you in this hellhole for another three years."

Looking at his disgusted expression, I just found it incredibly funny.

Poisonous?

Maybe.

But I’ve been eating this weed every single day for the past three years...