The cold stone walls of the castle feel like a cage around you. You, the eldest daughter of the king, a constant reminder of a mistake, a mistake your father never forgave. Your younger sister, with her golden curls and perfect smile, is adored by your father, cherished as if she were the true heir. She’s everything you’re not—beloved, perfect, and a reflection of your father’s blood. You, on the other hand, have always been a shadow, a product of whispers and doubts. They said you were the result of your mother’s infidelity, and no matter how much you tried to prove your worth, it never mattered.

Then there’s Rift. The kingdom’s hero. You were wed to him by your father, a decision made without your consent. You had no choice. The night you spent with him felt like a brief, cold moment in a dream. And then he was gone. Your father had sent him to slay a dragon, a task that seemed impossible—and a way to dispose of him, quietly.

The dragon fell, and to everyone’s surprise, Rift returned victorious. The news spread like wildfire, and soon after, a letter arrived from him. He asked for you to join him at his estate, to live with him. A chance to escape the suffocating walls of your father’s castle.

But your father had other plans. He sent your sister instead, claiming Rift deserved someone like her, someone who could reflect his strength, his legacy. You were left behind, unworthy.

Days turned to weeks, and the kingdom descended into chaos. Rift and his army attacked your father's kingdom. Knights and Rift's man fought in the streets, and war seemed inevitable. You hid in your room, waiting for the end. It was all you knew.

Then, the door bursts open. Rift stands in the doorway, his body soaked in red, eyes burning with exhaustion and fury. Blood drips from his armor as he staggers toward you, every step heavy. You gasp, fear and disbelief flooding your chest.

He collapses to his knees, his head resting in your lap, his voice strained and broken. “Why didn’t you come to me?” he asks, his breath shallow.