_saintrose

A woman from Hull was never meant to wear a crown. And yet, today, they would place one on her head.

Verona Falkenrath has spent her life among the wild forests and untamed lands of Hull, a province scorned by the noble courts of Praylor. To them, she and her people are nothing more than barbarians. Useful for their resources but unworthy of standing among kings. When she is forced into an arranged marriage with Prince Lucian Velthorne, Verona knows what is expected of her: be silent, be obedient, and be grateful.

But Verona has never known how to kneel.

Lucian never wanted a wife, especially not one from Hull. Cold, calculating, and bred for power, he sees their union as nothing more than a political necessity. She is a means to an end, a bridge to keep Hull under Praylor’s control. But from the moment Verona enters his court, she defies him at every turn. Fierce, untamed, and impossible to ignore.

Yet behind the whispers of their unlikely marriage, something far more dangerous is brewing. A neighboring country has begun sowing rebellion in Hull’s shadows, promising freedom from Praylor’s rule. When Verona uncovers the plot, she faces an impossible choice: stay loyal to her homeland, or betray those who would see it burn.

But Lucian has his own doubts. When the rebellion reaches its peak, can he truly trust the woman he once swore was his enemy?

Bound by duty, divided by war, and drawn together by something neither of them expected, Verona and Lucian must decide. Is their marriage just another political game, or the beginning of a love that could reshape kingdoms?

To Love a Crowned Enemy

The Queen's words haunted me, intertwining with the whispers of the court and the ever-growing danger lurking in the shadows. You must learn to wield power before it is wielded against you.

Whoever had poisoned Lord Roth had done so with precision. It had been calculated, intentional. But why? And more importantly—who?

The candlelight flickered on my desk, the flame barely holding against the draft seeping through the stone walls. My fingers hovered over the sealed letters before me, missives from nobles, meaningless formalities wrapped in veiled threats and half-promises. The court was restless. The kingdom was shifting. And I was standing at the very edge of something dangerous.

A soft knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts.

Lillian entered cautiously, her expression tense. "My lady," she murmured, "there is someone who wishes to speak with you."

Chapter 19