1 It all began at the Royal Spring Hunt. That was where Crown Prince Adrian, with a single arrow, struck an orphan girl. She was Lina, the niece of his biological mother—a woman whose name was a dark whisper in the palace, a stain on his royal lineage. Adrian was instantly smitten. He declared on the spot that he would make her his princess. There was just one problem: I was his fiancée. Elara of the great House Stanley. He came to Stanley Manor to break the engagement himself, his voice ringing with self-righteous conviction. “I was the one who tended her wound. We were alone. Her honor is compromised—by my hand. She has no other path now but to marry me.” He looked at me then, a flicker of pity in his eyes. “You are the Queen’s niece. You’ll have your pick of any nobleman in the kingdom. Why would you fight a poor, helpless girl over one man?” A daughter of House Stanley, fighting over a man? He must have been dreaming. The moment word of his intent got out, a royal decree arrived from the palace. I was to remain the undisputed Crown Princess. It was just that the Prince now had someone else in mind for the role. … Prince Adrian stood in our grand hall, his posture regal, but his eyes were fixed on the fragile beauty beside him. “Lina is delicate, and new to the capital,” he announced to my family. “I injured her, and in binding her wounds, I compromised her. If I don't marry her, how can she possibly face the world? I appeal to your good sense, Lady Elara. A young woman’s reputation is everything. Lina has no future now, except as my wife. If you have any compassion at all, you will agree to end our betrothal.” He had been infatuated with Lina for two whole months, ever since that hunt. He’d said nothing, waiting, deliberately choosing my birthday to unleash this humiliation upon me and my house. With a hall full of guests, we had no choice but to face this storm. My father’s hand trembled as he gripped his wine glass. He abandoned all pretense of courtesy. “Your Highness, have you considered what a cancellation on these grounds will do to Elara? How will her honor be preserved? You were the one who begged the King for this match, a fact known throughout the capital. To come here now and cast it aside… what does that make of House Stanley?” Lina clutched Adrian’s sleeve, her voice a tremulous whisper. “My prince, please, don’t argue with Lord Stanley on my account. I can bear the rumors. Death is a small price to pay. I would never want to be a burden to you.” Adrian wrapped an arm around her. “I won’t let you face the whispers alone,” he murmured, before turning his gaze to me. It was a look of arrogant disdain. “Lady Elara, you come from a noble line. Surely you won’t stoop to fighting Lina for a husband. You have a legion of suitors to choose from. To cling to this engagement now would seem… grasping.” He smirked. “Or perhaps you’re just like all the other women in this city, desperate only for the title of Crown Princess? Since our betrothal, you’ve been so cold. You refused all my invitations—for walks, for tea, for poetry readings. You were clearly unhappy with the match. This is for the best.” House Stanley, one of the founding families of the kingdom, had never suffered such an insult. I was speechless with rage. I simply retrieved the betrothal contract. “Your Highness, here is the writ. From this day forward, we are free of each other. May you find your happiness, and I shall find mine.” I turned to his new love. “And you, Miss Lina, need not weep here in my home. You’ve captured a prince’s heart and are on the verge of securing the most coveted position in the land. Shouldn’t you be celebrating?” Lina swayed, her face turning ashen. “Lady Elara, I know my station is beneath yours. I never meant to steal your fiancé. You don’t have to be so cruel.” Adrian laughed, a short, sharp, mocking sound. “You’re so quick to end it, Lady Elara. Could it be you already have someone else in mind? Perhaps my breaking this off is exactly what you wanted.” He scanned the stunned faces of our guests. “Since it’s your birthday, why not choose a new husband today? I will personally provide a magnificent wedding gift.” With that, he smiled, draped his arm around Lina, and departed, leaving a maelstrom of gossip in his wake. “Is the Prince mad? Breaking his engagement for some cousin who appeared out of thin air?” “But Lady Elara is the Queen’s niece! She is his cousin!” “Haven’t you heard? He shot this other cousin, Lina, at the spring hunt. It was love at first sight, and now he’ll move heaven and earth to marry her.” “Where did she even come from? No one’s ever heard of her. And the royal hunting grounds are heavily guarded. How did she get in?” “They say she’s from his birth mother’s family…” “Hush! The Prince’s origins are forbidden talk. Have you forgotten? His mother was a lowly palace servant.” My birthday celebration was ruined, ending in hushed tones and hasty departures. By morning, the story of how Crown Prince Adrian had jilted a daughter of House Stanley for an orphan girl was the talk of the entire capital. 2 The next day, the Queen summoned me to the palace. She is my father’s sister, my aunt, and she has always cherished me. Though she has reigned as Queen for years, she has no children of her own—a constant, secret sorrow. Adrian’s birth mother was nothing more than a kitchen girl the King had a fleeting encounter with at a summer palace. Her station was so low she was never even granted a formal title. She died not long after Adrian was born. Because of his mother’s disgraceful status, Adrian was scorned by everyone, even the palace eunuchs. He nearly didn't survive his childhood. It was my aunt, the Queen, beloved by the King and holding absolute power within the palace, who took pity on him. She brought him into her own wing, raising him as her son and ensuring he received the education of a prince. It was only because of her patronage that he, the fourth-born son, was named Crown Prince. “My dearest child,” she said, her grip on my hand tight with sympathy. “I know the injustice you’ve suffered. Adrian is a fool, blind to the blessings he’s been given. I taught him for years, gave him the most precious daughter of our house, and for what? He throws it all away for a pretty face, a ‘cousin’ he’s never even met before!” Her voice was laced with fury. “How can a man with such poor judgment ever rule? All my years of guidance… wasted. It seems the blood of that common girl runs truer in his veins than any of my teachings. He is not of my body, and I see now he will never be truly of my heart.” I rested my head on her lap, seeking her familiar comfort. “Aunt, it is better that the Prince revealed his true nature now than after I was bound to him in the palace. A daughter of House Stanley will not lack for suitors.” The Queen’s expression softened into a smile as she stroked my cheek. “Our Elara is the finest young woman in the kingdom. Do not worry. The position of Crown Princess is yours, and no one else can take it.” The King and Queen’s love story was legendary. They were childhood friends, and his devotion to her had never wavered, even without an heir of their own. Because she had raised Adrian, the King’s affection for her extended to the boy. Despite his ignoble birth, the King had granted him the highest title of all: Crown Prince. The King, too, had heard of the broken engagement and was livid. “Idiot!” he had roared at Adrian. “The greatest houses in the land would kill to have a daughter of Stanley. And you were betrothed to their primary heir, Elara herself! You threw that away for some nobody?” “The Queen arranged this marriage to give you the backing you lack! With House Stanley behind you, your position would have been unassailable. You have single-handedly cast away your greatest asset. You are as dumb as a swine!” The King stormed out, leaving Adrian fuming. Unfazed by his adoptive father’s rage, Adrian had the audacity to bring Lina to the Queen’s chambers to “pay respects.” He knelt before her. “Mother, you have always loved me. I only wish to marry a woman I adore. I am the Crown Prince. Surely, I have the right to choose the woman I love?” The Queen looked down at him, her disappointment a tangible thing. “You and Elara grew up together. I recall you kneeling before me, begging for this betrothal, claiming you cherished her and would stand by her for all your days. Was that a lie? You said you would be one heart, one soul, for a lifetime. Now she is not the woman you love?” “That girl, Lina, has blinded you.” Adrian held his head high, his hand tightly gripping Lina’s. “Mother, Elara is just like every other dull noblewoman. She’s rigid, boring, utterly devoid of life. But Lina… Lina is different! She loves to laugh and play. She can dance in ways the court has never seen and sings folk songs from the countryside. She’s captivating! Mother, if you just got to know her, I know you would love her too!” From behind the screen where I was hidden, a scornful smile touched my lips. Singing folk songs and dancing provocative dances? The taverns and brothels were full of such "captivating" women. The Queen’s voice was ice. “Adrian, do you have any idea what you will lose without the support of House Stanley?” The Prince actually smiled. “I know you mean their political power in the southern territories. But Mother, I am the Crown Prince, the future king. The entire kingdom will be my domain. What do I have to fear?” He brightened further. “I know you are fond of Elara. So, let her be my secondary wife. When I am King, I will make her a Duchess. Surely House Stanley wouldn't dare object to that?” My fists clenched behind the screen. The insolence of this boy. “A daughter of House Stanley will never be a secondary wife,” the Queen stated, her voice dangerously calm. “Adrian, you are my adopted son, but you are not the King’s only son. Do you truly believe you can hold your position on your own?” “Of course,” the Prince said with unshakeable confidence. “I am the future king.” Lina spoke then, her voice dripping with false humility. “Your Majesty, I know my status is low. If Lady Elara joins the Prince’s household, I promise I will never compete with her. I will treat her as a sister, and we will serve our prince together.” The Queen let out a soft, chilling laugh. “Adrian, be certain of your choice. Once you marry this girl, there is no turning back.” “I am certain,” Adrian declared. “I will never regret it.” “Very well,” the Queen said with a wave of her hand. “You may leave. I will issue the decree in a few days.” His arrogance was boundless, a blatant dismissal of my family, the very foundation of the Queen’s own power. I knew my aunt had made her decision. I said no more, slipping away unnoticed. As I left the Queen’s wing, Adrian was waiting for me, blocking the palace gate. “Elara,” he began, his tone suddenly softer. “I was impulsive yesterday. I’ve thought it over, and I was wrong to act as I did.” “My father, the King, reprimanded me. And I realize, I should not have damaged your reputation so publicly.” “I have asked my mother to decree that I will marry Lina as my primary wife, but I will take you as my princess consort. That title is no insult. This way, we can still be together, and I won’t have broken my promise to you completely. What do you say?” He looked at me with what he must have thought was soulful tenderness, expecting me to nod in grateful acceptance. He was disappointed. I took a step back. “Your Highness, the matter of our betrothal is concluded. There is nothing more to discuss.” He reached for me. “Elara, I know I was wrong. Forgive me, just this once. I can even apologize to you in public, so you can regain face. Please?” I snatched my hand away. “Your Highness, control yourself. You declared our engagement void with your own royal lips. We were to go our separate ways. Have you forgotten already?” He cornered me against the wall, his voice dropping to a low threat. “Elara, you must be sweet and gentle if you want to be cherished by a man. We were betrothed. A woman rejected by the Crown Prince… who in this kingdom will dare marry you now? If word of your defiance spreads, your life will be ruined.” I lifted my chin, staring into the face that bore no resemblance to my noble aunt. “You need not concern yourself with my future, Your Highness. A daughter of House Stanley will not lack for suitors. Even if you screamed yourself hoarse proclaiming me untouchable, the nobles of this realm would still line up at my family’s door.” His face darkened with fury. “Elara, there’s a limit to how much a man will tolerate a woman’s temper. I will inform the King that the wedding will proceed as planned. And once you are my consort, I will take great pleasure in teaching you some manners.” From that day on, Adrian paraded Lina all over the capital. He showered her with gifts, commissioning the finest jewelers and silk weavers to craft a trousseau fit for a queen, since her own family was too poor to provide one. Lina, who had never seen such opulence, was mesmerized by the silks and gems. Adrian would hold her close and proclaim, “I will make every person in this kingdom bow to you. One day, you will be the most revered woman in the land.” He spent lavishly, surrounded by a cloud of sycophants who praised him as a true romantic, a prince who defied the King and Queen for love, who would cast aside a powerful noble house for a humble maiden. It was, they said, a story for the ages. Fed by this adulation, Adrian’s ego swelled. He took Lina’s hand and whispered, “You are the only one I love. You will be my Queen, and all will kneel before you. As for that little wretch from House Stanley, she will be lucky to serve you.” Lina would lean against him, a picture of delicate virtue. “My prince, are you sure you want to give up Lady Elara for me? She is the Queen’s niece, a true high-born lady. She is better suited to be Crown Princess. As long as I have your heart, I would gladly give up the title, just to be near you every day…” “And the Queen… she doesn’t seem to like me. I don’t want you to be in a difficult position.” “Nonsense,” he soothed, stroking her hair. “I am the Crown Prince. Can I not give the woman I love the highest honor? House Stanley, for all its prestige, is still just a subject of the crown. Offering her a secondary position is already a great kindness.” “My mother has no children of her own. She raised me. Who else can she rely on? She will come around, you’ll see.” His voice hardened. “As for Elara Stanley, the King commands, the subject obeys. If I want her as my consort, House Stanley will deliver her to my doorstep.” His circle of fools applauded. “Spoken like a true future king! Such power!” These words, of course, reached the palace with lightning speed. “The King commands, the subject obeys.” Adrian was still only the heir, yet he spoke as if the throne were already his. The current King, still in the prime of his life, did not take kindly to such presumptuous talk. When he heard it, his face contorted with rage, and he swept the entire contents of his desk to the floor in a single, furious motion. When the Queen heard it, she merely smiled, a thin, cold curve of her lips. “Who else can I rely on?” she murmured to her lady-in-waiting. Her attendant replied smoothly, “He seems to have forgotten, Your Majesty, that every prince in this palace calls you ‘Mother.’ They are all your children.” A few days later, my mother hosted a garden party, partly to lift my spirits and partly to discreetly begin the process of finding me a new, more suitable match. As the guests mingled among the blooming roses, a servant’s voice cut through the cheerful chatter. “His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived!” Adrian swept into the garden with Lina on his arm, followed by servants carrying more than a dozen lavish gift boxes. He smiled at me, a picture of magnanimity. “A garden party for Elara? How could I not attend? Were you so angry with me that you neglected to send an invitation? No matter. I have come uninvited to make my apologies. Surely you can’t still be cross with me.” Beaming, he stepped forward and plucked a perfect crimson rose, moving to tuck it into my hair. The guests gasped. I recoiled as if struck. “Your Highness. I am merely your subject. I am not worthy of such a gesture. I hear the royal wedding is soon. Allow me to offer my congratulations to you and your future Crown Princess. May you have a long and happy life together.” My words drew a sharp, clear line between us. He faltered for a second, then his smile returned, strained. “Still angry? Very well. It is all my fault. I will offer a formal apology right here. The other day, I consulted the Royal Astrologers. The first day of next month is a most auspicious date. I will inform the King and Queen that you will enter the palace then, ahead of the main ceremony. You will hold a rank equal to Lina’s. And I will swear an oath, right here in front of everyone: besides Lina, no other woman shall ever be placed above you!” The guests exchanged confused, worried glances. The engagement was broken, wasn’t it? Why was the Prince acting as if it was a settled matter that a daughter of Stanley would be his secondary wife? Lina giggled beside him. “It’s true, sister Elara. I convinced the Prince to bring you into the palace first. You won’t have the robes of a Crown Princess, but I went to the royal tailor myself and commissioned a wedding gown for you. It’s absolutely beautiful.” At her signal, a servant brought forth a gown of shimmering silver-rose silk, heavily embroidered with jewels. It was magnificent, opulent… and it was not the pure, deep crimson reserved for a primary royal bride. My mother and the elders of my house turned pale. This was not a gift. It was a calculated, public humiliation, an attempt to grind the honor of House Stanley into the dust. I met Lina’s triumphant gaze and let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “The Prince is to be married. He should find a proper tutor to instruct his future bride on court etiquette—what to say, and more importantly, what not to say. Marriages, since time immemorial, are arranged by the will of the parents and the exchange of contracts. House Stanley has agreed to no such union. Without contract or consent, it is not a marriage, it is a disgrace. Surely, Miss Lina, you understand this?” My voice dropped. “Ah, but perhaps not. You entered the Prince’s residence without a contract yourself, didn’t you?” “Such customs must be learned elsewhere. We of House Stanley do not practice them. This gown, beautiful as it is, I cannot accept. I suggest you take it back and wear it yourself.” Lina’s face flushed a furious red. “How dare you! I am the future Crown Princess! You will show me respect!” I took a step closer, looking down at her. “Has a royal decree named you as such? Does the kingdom know that the Prince has taken a wife? No? Then I suggest you learn some humility, Miss Lina. Before you celebrate a victory that is not yet won, and find yourself with nowhere to hide when it all comes crashing down.” Tears streamed down her face as she threw herself into Adrian’s arms. “My prince, I didn’t mean it like that! I was only trying to be kind and bring her a gift! Why must she be so aggressive? I told her I would be a good sister to her!” She sobbed. “It must be my low birth. I’m not worthy to share a husband with her. My prince, I don’t want to cause you trouble… If I must endure such insults, I would rather not be Crown Princess at all! I would rather be a simple servant, just to be by your side…” Adrian’s face was a thundercloud. “House Stanley calls itself noble, and this is the kind of daughter it produces?” His voice was cold steel. “If you people are so determined to be difficult, then you leave me no choice. I will dispense with the pleasantries. I issue this decree myself, today. Guards! Take Lady Elara back to the palace. We will consummate our union tonight, and tomorrow, you are all invited to drink a toast to Elara, my new princess consort.” “You go too far!” my father roared. The Prince’s guards and handmaidens were already moving towards me, surrounding me. The party guests looked on in horror. Suddenly, a clear, authoritative voice rang out from the gates. “A Royal Decree has arrived!” A smile bloomed on Adrian’s face. “It must be my mother. She has convinced the King to grant my wish.” He turned to me, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “A marriage granted by the King himself. This should satisfy the honor of House Stanley, wouldn't you agree?” The royal herald stood before the stunned crowd, and all fell to their knees. He unrolled the scroll. “By the Will of Heaven and the Command of the King… To Elara of House Stanley, a woman of noble birth, impeccable virtue, and gentle grace. You are a perfect match for the King’s third son, Prince Kaelan. To forge a bond for a hundred years, you are hereby betrothed to Prince Kaelan as his primary wife and future Duchess. The wedding shall be arranged at the next auspicious date. By Royal Command!”
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