ter by a rising tide of murmurs and whispers. The nobles exchanged shocked glances, their fans fluttering nervously. They

se the G

clared his love for anoth

humiliated. She's jus

ight frown creasing his brow. He didn't understand. Of course he didn't. In our past l

throne and gave the

ce Adrian has made his affections clear. He loves Lady Seraphina. It would be cruel to forc

etting my w

he kingdom with unwavering loyalty. To be his wife would be the highest honor. M

wise and gracious princess. I saw the anger in a King's eyes soften, replaced by a look

shot a venomous glare at his nephew, who now looked completely bewildered.

nd raised

be wed to General Kaelen! We will have the

rted. As the King descended from the throne, Kaelen

still there, plain in his eyes. "You do not have to do th

an. It was a noble thought, but he was wrong. I looked up at him, and for

s than anything in my lif

t the trial. He had argued against the false charges, risking the King's wrath and Adrian's fury. He failed, and I was ex

ll, a hand gripped my arm. It was Adrian. His f

hissed, pulling me into a secluded alco

y arm from his grasp. "You made your choi

ou're trying to make me jealous. You think by choosing that block of woo

is voice dropping to a

w who you truly belong to. When you get tired of his boring silence, yo

he saw me as nothing more than a possession, an object for his amusement. Th

one but myself. And my future belongs to General Kaelen. You should f

e truly believed I was putting on an act. He was so self-absorbed he couldn't conc

long finally came. They weren't tears for Adrian, or for the love I thought we had. They were tears for the f

would whisper, the promises he had made. It had all been a lie, a beautifully crafted illusion designed to s

irl was gone. She had died on the executioner's block. I was what remained.