Forced to marry the enemy prince in her sister's place

To secure peace between two kingdoms, Princess Hera is sent to the powerful Empire of Aurelia to compete for the hand of a prince she has never even met.

By her side is her older sister, Astrid—a skilled warrior raised in secret and trained for battle, not court politics. Ordered by their father to protect Hera no matter what, Astrid enters a dangerous world where every alliance comes with a price and every smile hides hidden intentions.

As Hera slowly wins favor during the harsh courtship trials, everything takes an unexpected turn. She falls in love with another man—and soon discovers she's carrying his child.

With war threatening to break out and a scandal that could destroy both kingdoms, the Aurellian prince makes a shocking decision.

Instead of Hera, he wants Astrid.

Forced to take her sister's place, Astrid finds herself trapped in a political marriage she never wanted, tied to a prince she neither trusts nor understands. In the heart of an empire built on ambition and conquest, she must protect her sister's secret, survive deadly schemes, and deal with a husband who may be far smarter—and far more dangerous—than she ever imagined.

But as enemies gather and secrets threaten to come to light, Astrid begins to wonder whether the man she fears most could also become the one person she can rely on.

In a world where love, loyalty, and power are constantly at war, can a marriage born from lies lead to something real?