Ariadne would do anything for Cesare, her fiancé of fourteen years who always promised to make her his queen. But the day before his coronation, he betrays her-and declares he will marry her sister Isabella instead. With both of their cruel insults ringing in her ears, Ariadne is locked in a tower and executed in cold blood. So when fate grants her the opportunity to go back in time, Ariadne vows to change everything. She will never forgive any of them: her two-faced sister, her heartless fiancé, and everyone in her family who took advantage of her. She will have her revenge. And this time, everything will be hers. WARNING: This story contains depictions of abuse, the trauma of children, violence, gore, profanity, and strong language that may be upsetting for some readers. Reader discretion is advised. All Rights Reserved Written by LEFALJINF. Volume I of I'm the Queen in This Life.

--- 🌹 In the Shadow of Love In a quiet village where the sun painted the earth in gold every evening, there lived a young woman named Anaya. She was known not just for her beauty, but for the way her heart could heal sadness like spring heals the cold earth. Across the village, in the shadow of the old temple, lived Aarav-a quiet artist who spoke little, but whose paintings spoke of love, longing, and distant dreams. Every day, Anaya passed by his small home. And every day, Aarav sat by the window, sketching her smile in secret. He had fallen in love with her from afar, yet never found the courage to speak. One day, as the monsoon clouds gathered, Anaya stopped by the temple's steps, soaked and laughing, her scarf caught in the wind. Aarav, for the first time, stepped outside. In his hand-a rose made of paper and ink. A fragile gift, yet full of feeling. He held it out to her and said softly, "I've painted a thousand pictures of you in my heart. But none can match this moment." She looked into his eyes, saw the sincerity, the waiting, the soul behind silence. With a smile, she took the rose and whispered, "Then let's paint a new picture together-one we live, not just imagine." From that day forward, love blossomed not only in colors and canvas-but in moments, shared glances, and stories whispered in the shadow of love.