Chapter 1 Arrival
The entire palace buzzed with excitement over the arrival of the King and the Duke. Tonight, a grand ball would be held in their honor, and every corner of the palace had been prepared with perfection. Fresh flowers adorned the halls, golden chandeliers glimmered above us, and tables overflowed with exotic delicacies and fine drinks.
Our parents refused to compromise on a single detail, for tonight was not merely a celebration—it was the night they would formally propose our marriages. If all went well, the wedding would take place within a week, and we would leave Western Bennett forever.
The thought ached my heart.
Yet beneath that sorrow lingered excitement… especially at the thought of seeing him again.
I still remember the day we first met. I despised him for his arrogance, for the coldness in his eyes and the pride in his voice. The kingdom whispered cruel rumors about him—that he was merciless, short-tempered, and heartless.
But behind that cruelty, I discovered a gentleness no one else had ever seen.
And somewhere between his silence and his kindness… I fell for him.
Our marriage was never meant to be a love story. It was political—an alliance forged to bring peace between kingdoms. Yet fate had woven emotions into the arrangement, making everything far more dangerous.
The servants and ladies-in-waiting busied themselves preparing our gowns and jewelry. They carefully styled our hair, dusted our faces with soft powders, and adorned us like royal paintings come to life.
My sister looked breathtakingly beautiful tonight.
As for me, I wore a silver-lined gown that shimmered beneath the candlelight like moonlight upon water.
Mother entered our chamber shortly after and smiled proudly at us. Her compliments only deepened the nervous flutter in my chest.
Then, at last, the maids arrived with the news:
“The King and the Duke have arrived.”
My heart nearly stopped.
Our parents welcomed them warmly as the grand ballroom doors opened. Music filled the air, and the ball began in all its splendor. Nobles danced elegantly across the marble floor while others drank, laughed, and exchanged whispered gossip beneath glittering lights.
Then something unexpected happened.
The King of Timmet approached my sister and asked for her hand in dance.
He was immensely attractive—so captivating that it was impossible not to stare.
And my sister… she fell for him instantly.
They danced together as though no one else existed in the room. Their laughter turned into flirting, their closeness impossible to ignore.
Shock spread across the ballroom like wildfire.
Because she was already promised to the Duke.
At that moment, she could not refuse the King without causing insult.
The Duke seemed deeply upset, though he hid it behind a composed expression. But Jeet… Jeet was furious.
A terrible shame settled over me as whispers erupted around the hall.
Jeet did not speak a single word to me after that.
Only minutes later, he and the Duke left the ball entirely.
And soon enough, the ballroom drowned in gossip about my sister, Isobel.
Some whispered in amusement.
Others in judgment.
But all I could feel was the beginning of a disaster no one would be able to stop.
