Following his father's unjust treason accusation and execution, Ryker, heir to the Duke of Westerwyn, witnesses his world collapse. Left with his sister and mother, they teeter on the brink of catastrophe.
A glimmer of hope, however, arises as news circulates that the Cadilaria Empire's emperor plans to get his heir married—an enigmatic woman, shrouded in a half mask due to an alleged curse.
Given an unwelcome choice, the King compels Ryker to either wed the Masked Princess as the Duke of Westerwyn or face execution. Faced with this grave decision, Ryker, driven by the need to protect his family and restore honor, chooses to court the Masked Princess.
Determined to win her heart and avenge his father's demise, Ryker treads a perilous path, even if it means manipulating a potentially deadly royal ally.

The Masked Princess (Behind the Mask)

Raquel flopped on her bed the second she entered her room, letting out a sigh of relief. After a long trip and the emperor’s sudden announcement about the hunting festival, Raquel wanted to rest.


She could worry about everything else after she had taken a nice long nap. But as usual, everyone else had different plans for her. 


“There’s no time to rest, your highness.” Nicole stated as she stared at Raquel. “The emperor has organized a welcoming dinner that you’ll need to attend in a few hours.”


Raquel sat up and groaned, “Of course he has… The old man can never let anyone have a peaceful moment to themselves.”


“The bathwater is ready.” Nicole just said. “Would you like to soak in it while I prepare your evening gown?”


Raquel shook her head. “No… Let one of the lady-in-waitings do that. I’ll need your help.”


She didn’t really need any help, but she did need to speak to Nicole privately and Nicole understood that too. 


Welcoming Banquet (1)