The night was supposed to be perfect.
Candles flickered across the grand hall, golden light dancing over marble floors. Music played softly in the background, elegant and calm—just like a celebration should be.
My celebration.
Our celebration.
"Twelve kingdoms united under one queen."
That's what they called me.
Their queen.
Their wife.
I smiled as I walked forward, my long dress trailing behind me like a shadow. Twelve thrones stood before me, each occupied by a man who had once sworn everything to me.
My husbands.
My kings.
The Wolf King watched me with sharp, unreadable eyes.
The Lion King leaned back, a faint smirk on his lips.
The Serpent King's gaze was calm… too calm.
The others sat in silence.
All of them waiting.
Something felt wrong.
I stopped in the center of the hall.
"…Why is it so quiet?"
No one answered.
My heart began to pound.
"This is a celebration, isn't it?" I asked softly.
The Dragon King was the first to move.
He stood slowly, his presence filling the entire room.
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
"…It is," he said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Then why does it feel like a funeral?
I forced a smile.
"Then why do you all look like you're about to—"
Pain.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Unforgiving.
I gasped.
A blade.
Through my chest.
I looked down.
Hands trembling.
Blood.
"…W-what…"
My breath shook as I turned slowly.
The Wolf King stood behind me.
His hand still holding the blade.
His expression unchanged.
"…You—?"
"Don't move," he said quietly.
My knees gave out.
But before I could fall—
Another pain.
Burning.
Spreading through my veins.
Poison.
I looked up.
The Serpent King met my gaze.
"…It's faster this way," he said.
My vision blurred.
"Why…?" I whispered.
No one answered.
The Lion King finally stood.
Walked toward me.
For a moment—
I thought he would help me.
Stupid.
He crouched in front of me.
Lifted my chin.
"…You should have stayed weak," he said softly.
My chest tightened.
"W-what did I do…?"
Silence.
Then—
Flames.
The Dragon King.
Fire surrounded me.
Hot. Consuming.
I screamed.
"WHY?!"
My voice echoed through the hall.
Still—
No answer.
The Raven King stepped forward from the shadows.
"…Because you became a threat."
A threat?
I couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
I had trusted them.
Loved them.
Chosen them.
And this—
This was the end they gave me.
My body collapsed to the floor.
Cold marble against my skin.
Blood spreading beneath me.
My vision darkened.
Twelve figures stood above me.
Not husbands.
Strangers.
Monsters.
"…I see," I whispered.
My voice was weak now.
Barely there.
"…I was never your queen."
No one denied it.
Darkness crept in.
Slow.
Unavoidable.
If I had another chance…
I wouldn't love them.
I wouldn't trust them.
I wouldn't—
Darkness.
Gasp.
I shot up, lungs burning, heart racing wildly.
Air.
I needed air.
My hands flew to my chest.
No wound.
No blood.
"…What?"
I looked around.
My room.
My palace.
Everything the same.
Untouched.
Alive.
"…No."
My voice trembled.
"…That's not possible."
I stumbled out of bed, rushing to the mirror.
The girl staring back at me—
Was me.
But younger.
Unbroken.
Unkilled.
My breath slowed.
"…I'm back."
The words felt unreal.
Impossible.
But the memory—
The pain—
The betrayal—
Still burned inside me.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
My reflection changed.
Not physically.
But in my eyes.
Cold.
Sharp.
Different.
"…Good."
My fingers curled into fists.
Because this time—
Things would be different.
This time—
I wouldn't be their queen.
I would be their end.