I Choose A New Life Chapter 04
Outside the window, a light rain started to fall.
Feeling a wave of relief, I took Margaret for a walk through the royal gardens.
The gentle rain dimpled the lake, its dark blue water reflecting the color of the sky.
It also reflected the deep blue clothes of a man standing nearby, tall and broad-shouldered.
I stopped in my tracks.
Our eyes met. Standing there in the cold wind, the young man gave me a brief bow before turning to walk away.
He was a cold man, and his eyes showed no emotion.
Margaret looked surprised. “Who was that?”
“The future Prime Minister,” I said.
Margaret didn’t catch anything weird about my answer. She just looked impressed. “To be that young… that’s really something.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s nothing special.”
He was just one of my lovers from my previous life.
The very first day after the mourning period ended, William called Anna to his bed.
The palace staff figured out real quick who the King actually favored, and they were practically falling over themselves to flatter her.
While Anna’s place overflowed with extravagant gifts, Eversleigh Palace stayed quiet and empty.
I didn’t let it get to me. Instead, I made a point of going over to Silvermoor Palace every single day.
The Queen Dowager, Marie, had finally reached a state of total freedom. She spent her days admiring the flowers and brewing coffee, perfectly content.
When I walked in, she was lounging on a sofa, lazily watching a handsome young man play an instrument.
She smiled when she saw me and patted the spot next to her. “Just tough it out for a few more decades, and you’ll get to live a comfortable life like this, too.”
My mind drifted back to the past, and I felt my ears suddenly burning.
Catching my reaction, Marie waved the young man away and lowered her voice. “Is there someone outside the palace you have feelings for?”
Startled, I immediately shook my head. “I’d never risk something like that.”
She let out a soft laugh. “Don’t be silly. Women from families like ours rarely get to marry for love.
“When we were your age, both your mother and I had feelings for other men. Unfortunately…”
She trailed off, studying me with open curiosity. “I used to think you actually cared for my son. But watching how you act around here, I realize you’re exactly like me—you only married into the royal family to lock down our family’s social and political standing.
“Tell me, Bella. Is there a man you loved but couldn’t marry?”
A few faces from my past flashed through my mind.
Lowering my eyes with a shy smile, I confessed, “Yes.”
The second the word left my mouth, the room went dead quiet.
A figure stood in the doorway, his expression completely unreadable. I had no idea how long he’d been standing there listening.
I looked up just in time to catch a flash of the King’s robes as he turned and walked away.
Outside, the sky turned dark, signaling a storm rolling in.
That very night, the King issued a decree forcing me to move out to Mooncrest Palace.
They called it a relocation, but let’s be real—it was an exile.
The king’s order was harsh. Everyone at court knew I had angered him and lost all my political power.
I had no time to pack my things.
I could only take Margaret with me.
Cold rain and wind swept over the long stone path.
Margaret struggled to hold the umbrella and protect me from the storm.
A sudden gust of wind snapped the umbrella’s frame, and we still had a long way to go.