“A surprise?” The Prince scoffed. “And if I had died out there? You would have let me die as a prince who never knew his daughter existed.”
Her smile didn’t falter. “I’m grateful you didn’t. So, my surprise still worked. And more than that, I suppose I got a surprise too… about your new arranged marriage, Your Grace.”
Her nails pressed into her palms through the crumpled fabric of the handkerchief. She wouldn’t let herself crumble. Not now. Not after everything.
She vowed to hold her composure—as the lady of the castle, the Marchioness of Ravenswood.
===
Duty over Desire.
That was the mindset Elara Damaryon had set for herself when she accepted the marriage offer from the Prince who lived in the shadows of Valloria Kingdom.
Coming from a disgraced baron’s family, Elara dedicated herself to becoming a worthy wife and the respected lady of Ravenswood Castle for the past four years.
She worked tirelessly to remain devoted to the Prince, even though they had shared only one passionate night before he left for a war that would last four long years.
After the long, gruelling battle, the Prince’s return as a hero turned into agony for Elara when he was bound by Royal Decree to enter an alliance marriage with a warrior princess.
Vain would be an understatement for the disdain she felt. She refused to shatter into the broken mirror of her former self.
In a kingdom where fate is whispered through ancient spells and the Moon Goddess watches in silence, Elara, once certain the goddess had forsaken her, must uncover the blessing veiled beneath her suffering.
What she once saw as duty has become an undeniable desire. She must protect her legacy—not just as a mother, but as a woman who’s discovering more about her own power.
Will she uphold her duty to protect what matters most, or will her desire awaken a force she never dared to dream of—perhaps, love?
===
[WARNING MATURE CONTENT 18+]
WebNovel Spirity Awards 2025 Entry
