Chapter 1:A Caged Bird

The scent of roasted venison and spiced wine filled the grand hall of Duke Everan's estate, but none of it was for Aliana.

She stood at the threshold of the dining hall, her hands clasped before her, watching as her father's family feasted at the long oak table. The golden candlelight danced across their polished faces, their smiles warm, their voices filled with laughter.

She was not invited. She never was.

"Aliana."

The voice was cool, sharp as a blade.

She turned. Sybilla, the Duchess, her father's wife, regarded her with distaste.

"Yes, my lady?" Aliana replied, keeping her gaze lowered.

Sybilla held up her goblet with two fingers, as if even touching it was beneath her. "More wine. And this time, try not to be an embarrassment."

A faint snicker. Dahlia, the eldest daughter, smirking behind her goblet.

Aliana bit her tongue. She knew better than to respond. Moving quickly, she grabbed the silver pitcher from the side table, careful to keep her hands steady. But just as she reached for Sybilla's goblet—

A foot shot out.

She didn't see it until it was too late.

Her body pitched forward, and the heavy pitcher slipped from her grasp. The deep red wine spilled across the table, staining the pristine white cloth and splashing onto Sybilla's gown.

The hall fell silent.

Aliana froze, her breath catching.

Across the table, Dahlia hid a wicked smile.

Sybilla rose slowly, her expression unreadable—until, suddenly, she lashed out.

The slap came fast and hard, striking Aliana's cheek with a sharp crack. The force sent her stumbling backward, her ears ringing.

"You clumsy little wretch!" Sybilla seethed. Her once-golden gown was now ruined, stained a deep, blood-like crimson.

Aliana bit down on her trembling lip. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Her father, Duke Everan, sat at the head of the table, watching impassively. He did not intervene. He never did.

"I should have had you sent to the convent the moment your mother died," Sybilla continued, her voice cold. "Instead, we let you stay. And this is how you repay us?"

"It was an accident," Aliana whispered, barely audible.

Sybilla's fingers tightened around the stem of her goblet. Then, without warning, she dumped the remaining wine over Aliana's head.

The liquid drenched her, the scent of fermented grapes filling her nose, stinging her eyes.

Dahlia and the younger sisters burst into laughter. Only Celeste, the middle daughter, remained silent, looking away.

Aliana's fingers curled into fists.

One day, she would leave this house. One day, she would be free.

She just never imagined that freedom would come in the form of a death sentence.

---

Chapter Two: A Treasonous Frame

The moon hung high, casting a pale glow over the castle corridors when the pounding on Aliana's door shattered the silence.

She jerked awake, heart hammering.

"Open up!"

The voice was unfamiliar, but the authority in it was unmistakable.

Panic gripped her as she swung her legs over the bed. The door burst open before she could reach it. Guards flooded in.

Two of them seized her arms.

"What—? Let me go!" Aliana struggled, but their grip was iron-clad.

"You are under arrest for treason against the Crown," the lead guard announced.

Aliana's blood turned to ice.

Treason?

"This is a mistake!" she gasped, thrashing in their hold. "I haven't—"

The guards didn't listen. They dragged her out of the room as fear clawed at her throat.

---

The palace halls were eerily silent as Aliana was hauled before the royal court.

The King himself sat upon the throne.

King Regnar, ruler of Varneth, was an imposing figure, his golden eyes cold, his presence suffocating.

Beside him, Queen Elira watched like a hawk, her lips curved in a slight, cruel smirk.

But Aliana's breath caught when she saw the two figures standing to the side—

Prince Vael, the golden heir.

And beside him, Prince Kaelith.

The bastard prince.

He was taller than she had imagined, clad in black, his presence effortless, a quiet storm. He leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with cool indifference.

Then, her father stepped forward.

Duke Everan.

Her own father.

"Your Majesty," he said solemnly. "This girl is my daughter. And she has committed a grave crime."

Aliana's lungs seized.

"What?" Her voice shook. "Father, no! I don't even know what I'm accused of!"

Sybilla stepped forward, a fake look of grief painted across her face.

"We found this in her chambers," she said, holding up a folded parchment.

A letter.

A letter Aliana had never seen before.

The King took it, scanning its contents. His jaw tightened.

"Written proof of conspiracy with rebels," he announced.

Aliana couldn't breathe.

"This is a lie!" she cried. "Someone planted that—I swear!"

"Enough!" the King's voice boomed, silencing the hall.

His golden gaze bore into her, filled with unquestionable authority.

"The punishment for treason is death."

Her legs nearly gave out.

This couldn't be happening.

Then—

"I invoke the Blood Binding Ritual."

Gasps erupted across the room.

Aliana turned sharply toward the voice.

Kaelith.

The bastard prince had stepped forward, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips.

"By law, if I claim her, she cannot be executed," he said.

The Queen's face darkened.

"You will do no such thing," she hissed.

Kaelith tilted his head. "Why not, my Queen? Are we ignoring the sacred laws now?"

She said nothing.

He turned back to Aliana, his gaze unreadable.

"This isn't kindness," he murmured low enough for only her to hear.

"You belong to me now."

Aliana shivered.

This wasn't mercy. This was another kind of trap.

And she had no way out.