Chapter 131 — Don’t Tell Me You Regret Anything
"Your Majesty!"
The group of guards stationed before the grand golden door adorned with a lion crest at its center exclaimed in unison, promptly bowing to the queen.
The queen, adorned with a dark dress, inclined her head, a silent command to open the gate.
Two guards closest to the entrance stepped forward and obeyed, the heavy door groaning as it swung open.
Inside, the curtains were drawn, leaving the room illuminated only by the dim lights hanging from the ceiling. At the heart of the otherwise empty chamber rested a large glass coffin. Within, the king lay motionless, his eyes closed, encased in ice to preserve his body.
Isabella’s gaze swept over the men stationed around the coffin. They bowed their heads in respect, but she paid them no mind. The sight of them guarding the king even in death left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Leave," she ordered sharply, her voice echoing in the stillness. The men hesitated only briefly before filing out, the door closing with a dull thud behind them.
Taking a deep breath, Isabella knelt before the coffin. Her trembling hands hovered in the air before pressing against the glass, her fingers curling into fists. Pain and fury roiled within her, emotions ignited by the man lying cold and lifeless before her.
"Your Majesty," she began, her voice low, laced with a mix of sorrow and resentment. "Do you remember what you told me when we first met? You promised to make me, a mere tigress shifter slave, your queen. You said I would reign over the world by your side."
A faint, bitter smile played on her lips as she recalled those words—once a source of hope. The king had shown her moments of beauty, convincing her that the cruel world she knew was but an illusion hiding a paradise.
"But they were lies," she spat, anger flashing in her eyes, her jaw tightening.