"Ouch!" A sharp, searing sensation engulfed Queen Marsh, causing her eyes to widen. Where was she?
Suddenly, a chilling voice echoed in her ears.
"Bailey Noel, these hundred lashes are meant to teach you a lesson today! You dared cruelly murder the people around Princess Aimee. Even if you are the queen consort, I cannot condone such acts! Again with such acts, you will be met with merciless punishment!"
Bailey Noel, was that her name?
Queen Marsh's mind was in chaos as unfamiliar memories flooded her. This body belonged to Bailey Noel, the infamous queen consort of the Cruylia, known to be infatuated, ill-mannered, and hot-tempered.
"Please, I beg you, help me..."
"You are the queen of Ufrurg, loved and feared by all. You must be able to help me..."
"I can no longer go on. I beg you, help me get through this!"
A feeble voice resounded in her mind and then faded away.
She sat up in astonishment, unable to believe that she had been reborn and now lived as someone else!
Ufrurg and the Cruylia were sworn enemies.
She had gone from being the revered queen of Ufrurg to a despised waste of a queen consort in the enemy's country!
Queen Marsh sighed and realized that she was now Bailey.
Even though she held the title of queen consort, she was beaten to the point of bloody wounds. How much hatred must reside in this person's heart to summon her back from the dead?
"Bailey, do you plead guilty?" the clear voice again resounded.
Bailey raised her head, straining to see the person who had just spoken.
Although she had encountered many men, she must admit he was the most handsome she had ever seen. Clad in a white robe, his cold countenance exuded an air of authority in every line of his face and every arch of his brow.
This man was none other than her current husband, the reigning King Rory, Rory Lowery.
Unfortunately, what good was a handsome appearance when concealed within was a ruthless heart?
Looking at the whip marks and bloodstains covering her body, Bailey let out a cold laugh and fixed her gaze upon this man, hoarsely asking, "Rory, would you believe if I tell you that I was framed?"
Unlike her previous cries of grievance, her words were delivered calmly, leaving everyone present dumbfounded.
Princess Aimee wore a disdainful smile on her face. "How absurd! Who would falsely accuse you without cause? It was clear that you held a grudge against me for speaking ill of you, and in your hatred, you pushed my maid into the river to drown! Even my butler witnessed it. Yet you still refuse to admit it?"
Bailey let out a scornful laugh. How dare they bring such a low-level trickery before her?
She coldly questioned, "If the butler saw it, why didn't she call for help on the spot?"
Aimee Cook hadn't expected her to ask such a question. Her lips twitched, and she quickly retorted, "You are the queen consort. The butler feared your status and didn't dare offend you!"
Bailey chuckled hearing that. "If she truly feared me, then she should have kept silent to the death. So why did she hastily expose me as soon as the maid died? Could it be that she killed the maid herself and framed me?"
"Impossible! My butler and my maid had a strong bond. How could she resort to murder? It is only you and I, the princess, who have a grudge. You, relying on your position as the queen consort, are the one with the audacity to kill!"
Aimee grew increasingly arrogant and addressed Rory, saying, "I see that my sister-in-law shows no sign of remorse. The whipping must continue!"
She didn't even spare Bailey a glance.
Bailey, calm and composed, questioned once again. "The maidservants around the princess possess martial skills, but I lack such expertise. How, then, could I have killed her?"
"Surely, you attacked her from behind!"
"At night, there are regular patrols by guards every half an hour near the lake. She would have called out loudly and attracted the guards if pushed into the lake. But why did she drown without making a sound?"
Aimee continued to argue cunningly, "She must have choked when she fell into the water, unable to make any noise."
"That's utter nonsense." Bailey calmly corrected her. "If a person falls into the water while conscious, even half-drowned and choking, they instinctively scream for help. It's an instinctive reaction. Besides, that maid is not mute. Or perhaps, she had already lost consciousness before falling into the water."
Aimee's eyes revealed a flicker of guilt. She had thought that Bailey could only make a scene, but she never expected her to be so sharp and clear-minded!
Despite being beaten severely, she had become much more astute.
Rory, too, was taken aback. He never expected that this woman, with her infatuated mind, could raise such doubts. It was truly eye-opening.
Soon, Aimee regained her composure. Bailey was just a fool. No matter how much she said, it was all empty threats.
"Rory, the evidence is right before her, yet she still wants to argue. She truly has a thick skin."
Bailey ignored her and said, "I want to see the maid's body."
Witnesses may lie, but a corpse couldn't.
Rory stared at her, his face turning as white as paper as if a gust of wind could knock him over. Yet, this fragile-looking Bailey had a fierceness in her eyes that sent chills down his spine.
For some inexplicable reason, he nodded.
The guards carried the maid's body. Bailey struggled and called out to the crowd, "Meghan, help me over there."
Meghan Garza rushed to her side, her eyes red, and she carefully supported Bailey. "Allow me to assist you."
Though her wounds were agonizing, Bailey stood tall, exuding an aura of strength.
The maid's face was swollen from being submerged in water, her hair disheveled, devoid of any signs of life.
Bailey carefully observed the maid's hands, noticing that her nails had a faint blackish-purple color, yet spotless.
She calmly spoke, "This person was poisoned. When someone drowns, they usually sink to the bottom of the water and resurface after losing consciousness. The lake bed has plenty of mud and sand. If she drowned, her fingers would have been covered in sediment."
"But this maid's fingers are clean, yet her nails are blackish-purple. It suggests she lost consciousness before falling into the water, probably due to poisoning."
Aimee was now completely panicked, staring at Bailey in disbelief.
This foolish woman had managed to reveal the truth in an instant.
What sent shivers down her spine were Bailey's following words. "This poison must be Othalda, a unique toxin from Ufrurg. It is widely known that your mother hails from Ufrurg. If I were to report this incident to your father truthfully, how do you think he would react?"
Aimee's face turned ashen with fear. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Her father was intolerant, with no room for even a grain of sand. If he were to discover that both she and her mother carried the deadly Ufrurg poison, it would spell disaster.
Bailey smiled knowingly. "You've poisoned the maid, framing the queen consort, Princess Aimee. You have quite the audacity!"
Despite the blood still flowing from her back, Bailey stood resolute, her gaze filled with a commanding and austere presence.
Aimee was utterly terrified, her words stumbling and incoherent.
Rory, who had been observing the scene coldly, never expected Bailey to present evidence of her innocence, leaving Aimee frightened.
He masked his astonishment. His voice was cold as he addressed Bailey. "As for the previous incidents, I will let them slide due to our sibling bond. But Aimee, you are the princess of our nation. If you continue your cunning intentions, pack your belongings and return, lest you be disgraced!"
Aimee dared not utter a word and hastily left with her entourage.
Before departing, she couldn't help but glare fiercely at Bailey, wishing she could devour her alive!
With the crisis resolved, Bailey finally succumbed to her weakened state and fainted.
Meghan held her in her arms, tearfully pleading with the king. "Please, for the sake of justice, find a physician for the queen! She can't endure the aftermath of all those lashes..."
Rory coldly watched her, the one who had boldly questioned the truth moments ago, now weak and helpless, relying on Meghan's embrace, unable to open her eyes.
This woman deserved her fate!
He wished for Bailey to just die, for her presence tainted his sight every day!
Yet, she seemed like a stranger just a moment ago.
The King's side concubine, Brenna Mack, who had remained silent all this while, raised an eyebrow. She noticed the confusion on Rory's face and spoke understandingly, "My king, the queen is innocent. She has suffered injustice this time, and her wounds must be treated."
Rory looked at her with indulgence. Indeed, Brenna was kind and considerate, far better than Bailey in every aspect!
Impatiently, he ordered, "Danny, go fetch Vic Odom to tend to her wounds."
"Yes, my king."
Brenna glanced disdainfully at the barely conscious Bailey on the ground and sighed inside. It was such a pity. She was so close to being beaten to death with that cudgel!
Well, what difference would it make to let her linger on?
That gruesome and bloody sight would only serve to disgust people even more!
The queen consort, so what? In Rory's heart, there was only ever room for one person.
Whether in the past or now!
