Deborah_Leo

In the grand empire of Skiiri, a marriage is arranged between the noble Prince Xìn Xuān and the elegant Princess Lù Zhāo—a union meant to strengthen alliances, not hearts. Among her guards is a silent, sharp-eyed knight named Shèng Lín, whose loyalty masks a deadly secret: he is a spy sent to assassinate the prince.

But fate has other plans.

On the final night of their journey through the mountains, beneath pouring rain and hidden desires, the prince and the spy share an unexpected kiss. When dawn comes, they wake up not with regret… but in each other’s bodies.

Forced to switch lives, the proud prince must live as a lowly knight, and the cold spy must pretend to be royalty. They must fool their kingdoms, survive political traps, and navigate the palace’s endless gaze—all while untangling the growing feelings that neither can deny.

Yet when the prince discovers the truth—that the man he’s falling for was once sent to kill him—the fragile trust between them shatters.

Will love survive betrayal?
Or will duty and destiny tear them apart for good

(bl) Swapped lover

The grand hall was dressed in silver and blue.

Nobles filled the audience chamber, their elegant robes brushing against polished marble floors. Servants moved like shadows, and murmurs fluttered across the crowd like restless birds.

Everyone had gathered for the official wedding announcement of Prince Xìn Xuān and Princess Lù Zhāo.

The King sat on the throne, expression proud. The Queen smiled gently. The prince stood tall in his ceremonial garb—emotionless, composed.

Clad in imperial white and crimson silk, hair adorned with golden pins, Princess Lù Zhāo stepped forward. Graceful. Regal. But her eyes held something sharper than royal dignity.

And as the royal herald finished the formalities, she lifted her chin and stepped into the center of the room.

> "I am Princess Lù Zhāo, daughter of General Lù and Lady Huī."

> "Since the moment of my birth, I was taught that duty matters more than desire. That obedience defines a noblewoman. That marriage is a sacrifice one makes in silence."

Her voice trembled—only for a second.

> "But I am no longer willing to be silent."

> "This marriage was arranged without asking what either of us wanted. I have respected every command of my elders. I have smiled when I wanted to weep. But today—today, I will speak."

> "Your Highness… I respect you. And I know your heart is not fully here. Just as mine is not."

> "Because I… I already love someone else."

The nobles erupted in whispers. Some gasped. Others stared in horror.

The king stood. "Lù Zhāo—what nonsense is this?"

The princess remained calm. "It is not nonsense to speak one's truth. It is not treason to love."

The king barked, "You disgrace the royal name!"

Then—unexpectedly—Prince Xìn Xuān stepped forward.

> "If the princess does not wish to marry, then she shall not."

His eyes met hers—not with romance, but with shared understanding.

> "We are not enemies. We were only strangers, forced to pretend."

And in that moment, Lù Zhāo knew: he was letting her go.

A gift only someone who understood heartbreak could give.

Later that afternoon, she left the palace—not in disgrace, but in dignity.

Her golden hairpins removed, her royal robes replaced with soft lavender travelwear. Her heart pounded with both fear and freedom.

And when she arrived at the home of Shèng Měi, knocking quietly at the door—

The knight's sister opened it with surprise.

> "No need to call me that anymore. Just… call me Lù Zhāo."

And for the first time in her life, she stepped into a home she had chosen, not one built by duty.

And perhaps—just perhaps—love would finally bloom.

Chapter 19 — A Crown I Never Chose