I Have a Queen in Each and Every Kingdom - Chapter 43: Don’t Unlock This - Yet

After his fall, the Duke who was distant with his wife and daughter recalled his memories of another world. With a new perspective on life, he swore to cherish and protect those two.

During an internal Navy hearing, the top brass conducted a serious inquiry into Rogers Daren, the so-called “scum of the Marines” and Admiral of the North Blue.“You’ve had improper relations with royal princesses and noble ladies from multiple North Blue kingdoms?”“I call it showing care for the people.”Marines High Command: …“How do you explain the absurdly high salaries of the North Blue Marines under your command?”“Well, with what the HQ pays, how else do you expect them to risk their lives?”Marines High Command: (ーー`)“Why is the North Blue fleet equipped with technology from Germa?”“That’s just military-civilian cooperation. Germa 66 was moved by my sense of justice.”Marines High Command: (○_○)“And how do you explain the unusual deaths of a Celestial Dragon in the North Blue?”Daren sighed.“A maritime accident… truly unfortunate. I personally express my deepest condolences.”Marines High Command: (._.?)And so begins the story of a rebellious, unorthodox Marine.

In childhood, they were neighbors. Xie Zhen always bullied Li Yu.

When Jasmine’s fated mate Elliot rejects her for the Lycan Chairman’s daughter, she is left broken, humiliated and alone. To make matters worse, her father gets arrested for embezzlement, and Jasmine needs to raise ten million to release him.Desperate to save her father from a wrongful conviction, Jasmine takes the only job she can find—tutoring the bratty daughter of a rich werewolf family.But she never expected her employer to be the Lycan chairman himself: Gareth Laken. He is ruthless, dominant… and her ex-mate’s future father-in-law.Gareth thinks she’s a threat. A bitter ex-girlfriend out for revenge, waiting to harm his own daughter. But the more he watches her, the more he sees a woman refusing to be shattered by the world that betrayed her. A woman he can’t stop wanting, despite the huge age difference.Now, Jasmine is caught between two powerful men—one who destroyed her, and one who might destroy everything she has left to protect.Excerpt“You’re playing a dangerous game,” Gareth said, voice low, his towering frame just inches from mine.“I didn’t come here to play,” I shot back, even as my heart pounded. “But you should be asking Elliot why he keeps showing up at my door. I’m not the one chasing ghosts.”His eyes darkened, his gaze dropping to my lips. “He’s not the only one haunted by you.”I froze.I should have walked away.Instead, I whispered, “Then why do you look at me like you want to hate me and kiss me at the same time?”He didn’t answer.But his silence spoke louder than any lie.