Reborn as Empress While My Ex-Husband's Family Begs for Mercy

ing gardens. Aurelia had chosen a secluded corner, a small stone be

ed at no table, welcomed by no family portrait. She wore a simple dress of gray wool, but the fabric was of the highest quality, and it was tailored perfectly to her slender f

been her bitter rival-two outsiders circling each other with claws bared, fighting for scraps of influence in a house that despised them both. The memory of those battles, the

oice calm and even. "I would l

r of amusement in her eyes. "A transaction? What coul

," Aurelia said. "And your know

her for a long moment, weighing the girl before her. "You've

othing to lose and

"I know your greatest concern.

htening around her eyes. She recovered quickly, forcing a dismissive lau

urself. He's a bastard in a house that despises bastards. He'll be lucky to scrape

n held. But her hands, clasped in

Stonehaven Academy. He will be tutored by the most reno

acked. Stonehaven was the dream of every noble family. A person

rrowed. "Yo

ss and produced a small, unassuming wooden token, smo

g men. This was a token of his gratitude. It allows the bearer to ask one favor of him." She pau

had almost said too much.

er mind raced, weighing the sheer, life-altering magnitude of this offer. This was not just an education for Trist

know it'

urelia's voice dropped. "The Thornes are expected to formalize their offer within

s. She knew their reputation. She knew what t

remain steady. "And what

w his weaknesses. His vanity. His hunger for respectability. Tell him the Thorne alliance is a short-term gain. Tell him a connection t

derstanding. She did know her lover's weak

s in this house. Every whisper. Every scheme. Every guest wh

trice was dangerous. To work against her from the shadows was som

was anot

have what you want, you won't discard me? That you won

ithout flinching. "Bec

re both outsiders in this house, living on the scraps this family throws at us. We can spend the next ten years tearing

e-the weight of the words, the echo of old wounds-made her believe

ath. "You have a de

en token across the sto

d rose. Her posture was straighter now, her steps filled with a renewed se

kes to believe he's more clever than everyone else. I'll make him be

ed. "Exactly

the garden wall, and the light was fading fast. Aurelia remained on the sto

eath the cold resolve, a small and unfamiliar thing stirred-not hope, exactly, but something cl

There was no time to savor the victory. T