"Say goodbye, dear wife. I'll be sure to rule this nation well… without your help."

Astin stared at Jude wide-eyed.

She couldn't believe what she just heard him say. He confessed it all and was pointing a gun at her.

This was the same man whom she thought she loved so dearly that no one else mattered. Who would've thought he would be the mastermind behind all that had happened?

"Jude, how... How could you?" Astin asked, still in shock.

"Well, it's easy." He said. "I made you fall deep in love with me and hatched all my schemes under your nose. No matter how many people told you I was bad, you wouldn't believe so I used that to my advantage and poisoned your mind." He grinned. "I had you wrapped around my fingers, haha."

"You... You're a betrayer." She exclaimed and he chuckled.

"No, your highness, not just me." He stepped towards her. "We're both betrayers, you should know."

"I trusted you."

"Of course you did, sweetheart." He touched her with the gun. "After all, I saved you from the kidnappers which, " he lowered his head and whispered to her ears. "I diligently hired for your sake."

"Bastard!" Astin exclaimed bitterly and he hit her in the face. Unbelievable.

"Now, now, a queen such as yourself should not swear with such foul words." He said. She wanted to punch him but he caught her hand and flung her aside. "Women are weak." He glared at her. "You don't deserve to rule. The entire nation respects you because you're queen. But I'm your husband, I am king. But who deals with national affairs? You! Who takes all the big decisions? You!" Then he yelled, "It's making me go mad."

Astin watched this man turn into a monster. How could she not have seen through all his lies and schemes? How could she have been so deeply blinded? And all for what, because he wanted to rule and take all the big decisions? The nation would fall.

Astin shuddered thinking about all that had happened. They were all her fault.

The affairs of the royal family were too troublesome. It was too difficult to handle. She shuddered and felt goosebumps fill her entire body. She was scared and at the same time, irritated. If she had known this would happen, she would never have agreed to marry him. She would never have agreed to be queen.

They would try to force her on it anyway but she would resist. She'd run away, she'd... What was the use thinking about all this now when her demise was close? Jude was going to kill her.

"Any last words, dear wife?" Jude asked as he stationed the gun in front of her forehead.

He has this grin that made Astin sick. This man, he'd surely get what was coming. She closed her eyes. If she saw that face one more time, she'd definitely throw up. Maybe it was best to die.

"Please," she said as tears rolled down her shut eyes. "Take care of the nation well."

"Oh, I will." He clicked the gun. "And I'll be sure to bury you alongside your pathetic grandfather as well. Take it as my last good will to you."

'Ah, grandfather. I am so sorry I put the nation to ruins. I am so sorry I had to give up without even giving a proper fight.' The loud bang rang and her hazy eyes caught sight of someone running inside the throne room with a lot of guards chasing after him.

He looked desperate but she could not see his face. Who was he?

In any case, she was glad it was over for her. She just wished this man would not ruin the lives of the people living in the nation.

'If there is a next life, I would love to be a normal girl.'