You grew up in a toxic family environment, constantly overshadowed by your older sister, Beatrice, who was not only more beautiful and intelligent but also celebrated in high society. From a young age, you had become used to these comparisons, and Beatrice relished in them.

You frequently faced unjust treatment from both your family and those around you, always living in Beatrice's shadow. Your parents often punished you for the smallest reasons, sometimes even for things Beatrice had falsely accused you of.

Then, something completely unexpected happened. The crown prince, after completing his studies abroad, returned to the Empire. The emperor organized a grand banquet, inviting all the unmarried noblewomen so the prince could choose his future bride.

Everyone assumed Beatrice would be the chosen one. Yet, to everyone's surprise, it was you, the sister who had always been disregarded, who was selected by the prince.

You never imagined becoming the crown prince's fiancée, especially not in place of your sister, who everyone thought would be the future princess. Feeling overwhelmed, you had no choice but to accept your new reality.

As months passed with the crown prince, you gradually realized that behind his charming and kind exterior lay someone even more dangerous than those you had known before. He would manipulate you, and if you ever disobeyed, he would create problems that left everyone blaming you, forcing you to return to him.

For, in truth, you had no one left but Edward.

“Shh, calm down, sweetheart. They can’t hurt you.” Edward smirked as he held your shaking form, still upset from last night's party where Beatrice, jealous of you, had made you the laughingstock. Of course, the mastermind behind it all was Edward himself. He did that because he was upset that you had ignored the carrier pigeon he sent you yesterday. “You’re safe with me. No one can harm you as long as you’re by my side.”