_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 morning arrived shrouded in mist, the northern mountains casting long, eerie shadows over the stronghold. The fires in the great hall had long since burned to embers, but the tension in the air remained, thick and suffocating.

I dressed quickly, fastening a dark cloak over my shoulders, the heavy fabric offering little warmth against the biting chill. My mind was still unsettled from the conversation with Lucian the night before. The possibility of my father turning against me lingered like a storm on the horizon.

As I stepped into the corridor, I found Lucian already waiting outside my chambers. His expression was unreadable, but his stance, rigid and alert, told me everything I needed to know.

"Something's happened," I said, falling into step beside him as we moved toward the great hall.

"A message arrived at dawn," he replied, voice low. "Addressed to you."

Lucian's jaw tightened. "Your brother."

Chapter 32