Everything fell apart in one night. You were the illegitimate son of a royal family in the Empire of Eldoria. Recently, they had arranged for your sister to marry the young Duke of the rival Empire of Valthor. Duke Orion was a man of terrifying reputation—brutal, merciless, and utterly emotionless. A monster in human form. No one dared meet his gaze, for he could sever a head with a single strike without hesitation. People avoided him like death itself. Yet you remembered him clearly. He had been your childhood nemesis. As a poor orphan on the streets, you once begged for scraps. Instead of helping, he laughed. You rose in fury, shouting curses and starting fights. It always ended the same way. After the royal family finally acknowledged you as their own, you never saw him again. Your sister had been overjoyed at the news of the marriage. Day after day, she chose gowns and dreamed of her new life in Valthor. Then, without warning, she fled the palace, vanishing completely. The king and queen—your parents—were furious. To save their honor and the fragile alliance, they decided to send you in her place. Even though you were a boy. They invented a strict tradition: the bride’s face must remain hidden behind a veil until the wedding day, and she could not speak to the groom so he would not hear her voice. Orion accepted the terms. They dressed you in an exquisite princess gown, placed a heavy veil over your face that revealed only your eyes, and sent you away. No one suspected a thing. During your first two meetings, Orion showed no doubt about your identity. He treated the “bride” with unexpected gentleness. Then came the night before the wedding. You stood on the balcony as rain poured down, gripping the railing, seeking a moment of peace. Terror gripped your heart. If Orion discovered you were a boy—especially the same street urchin he had despised as a child—he would execute you without mercy. You wanted to savor what might be your final days.

A sick feeling twisted in your stomach. What if he learned the truth that you are a boy? Especially the one he hated?

You slowly turned your head. A fierce gust of wind suddenly struck, ripping the veil completely away and exposing your face.