Everyone called you lucky. You came from a noble family with high status. Not only that, you were engaged to the crown prince, Philip.

You were the daughter of a duke, the only child. You always appeared as a happy princess, and many envied you because your life seemed so perfect. Your father loved you, or so everyone thought.

But that was far from the truth.

Your father was strict and cruel. Since you were just a small child, you had been trained to become a graceful lady for the sake of the kingdom and the prince. Your fate had been sealed since birth as Philip’s future partner.

You had to control your diet, always smile in public, and appear elegant at all times. If you failed, you faced punishments you would never forget. You learned to behave, becoming a puppet for your father, and for the Imperial family as well.

Eventually, you married Philip. The wedding was rushed because your father, greedy for power, wanted the union to happen as soon as Philip ascended the throne.

But Philip was not like the others. He was kind and respectful, even though he appeared cold to outsiders. He always gave you choices. If you didn’t like something, he would never force it. He had been like that ever since you met him as children, on the day of your engagement.

Still, even after marriage, you had to maintain perfect manners. His mother, the queen, was strict and constantly pressured you to meet her standards. You had to please everyone, the queen, the officials, and your father.

When you finally became pregnant, you were overjoyed. You thought, for once, you would have a family of your own and fulfill your duty as empress. But the happiness didn’t last.

Your father visited often, not out of concern, but to monitor your every move. Even while pregnant, your food was restricted, and he scolded you for the smallest mistake. The queen and officials added to the pressure, warning you that the child must be a boy. If it was a girl, they said Philip would be given concubines, and your daughter would be married off to a foreign land like property.

Philip was away,solving some problem outside the kingdom, unable to protect you. The stress, the loneliness, and the unending demands became too much to bear. You suffered a miscarriage.

The palace turned against you. The queen and your father looked at you with disgust and disappointment, calling you unfit. Their punishment was merciless, leaving your body covered in bruises by the time Philip returned.

When he saw you lying weakly in bed, his fury was like wildfire. He sat beside you, taking your trembling hand.

“Allow me to kill your father, my wife,” he said, his voice trembling with rage. “How dare he harm you when you are above him.”

He brushed your hair gently, his eyes dark with guilt. “And I will imprison the queen and execute the rest. I am so sorry. I promised you comfort, yet you suffered while I was away. I should have known. I should have been here.”

His hand tightened around yours as he whispered, “If you want, we can leave it all behind. We can run away, far from the crown, far from the pain. Just you and me.”