I am the only daughter of one of the Empire's most influential Dukes. Blessed with both beauty and intelligence, I was raised to become the pride of my family. The House of Duke has long been one of the Empire's greatest pillars, holding enough political power to influence the succession to the throne.

Two years ago, I accepted an engagement to the Second Prince.

As a child, I had fallen into a freezing lake and was saved by someone whose face I never saw. Believing that my savior was the Second Prince, I devoted my heart to him and willingly agreed to our engagement out of gratitude.

The Second Prince was born to a concubine. Before our engagement, he possessed neither influence nor political support. However, once the House of Duke stood behind him, everything changed. Noble families began to acknowledge him, his authority grew, and he slowly became a serious rival to the Crown Prince.

Only then did I realize the cruel truth.

For the past two years, he had never loved me. To him, I was nothing more than a stepping stone to power. While enjoying the benefits of my family's support, he openly pursued another woman—a commoner blessed with divine magic, treating her as if she were his true fiancée.

But fate revealed an even greater secret.

The man who had truly saved my life that day was never the Second Prince.

It was the First Prince—the Crown Prince.

A cold and distant man who had spent most of his life on the battlefield protecting the Empire. He was deeply respected by nobles, knights, and soldiers alike, yet feared by many because he inherited the Imperial Bloodline's forbidden Dark Magic. The overwhelming power constantly threatened to consume him, making it nearly impossible for anyone to approach him without fear.

As a result, no noble lady wished to become his bride.

Now that I know the truth, I refuse to let my family be used any longer.

I will break my engagement with the Second Prince, withdraw the Duke family's political support, and leave him to face the consequences of his own ambition.

Instead, I will stand beside the man who truly saved my life.

Not out of pity.

Not because of duty.

But because I owe him a debt that can never be repaid.

If no one is willing to remain by the side of the lonely Crown Prince burdened by darkness...

Then I will become his wife.

And together, we will face both the battlefield and the imperial court—while the Second Prince watches everything he built crumble without the House of Duke standing behind him.