The Constantine Palace was a place I had only dreamed of. I had seen its grand halls and shining lights a few times when I came with my mother, who worked as the royal maid. But I never thought I would be part of its world.

Dimitri Constantine, the eldest son of the King of Russia, was known for being cold and distant. People said he didn’t talk much, and when he did, his words were sharp. I had seen him a few times walking through the palace. His icy blue eyes never looked my way, and I never thought they would.

Now, I was standing in front of him, my heart pounding. The King had made his decision: Dimitri and I were to be married. Me—the maid’s daughter—and him, the future King of Russia..

“I don’t care who you are,” Dimitri said, his voice as cold as his eyes. “This is just a duty. Nothing more.”

His words cut deep, and I felt like I didn’t belong. But there was no way to change what had been decided.

In that moment, I decided I would try my best to find my place, even if it meant learning how to reach the heart of someone who had built walls around it.