"Lila, my child. Remember, you are the Crown Princess of the Southern Empire, Azro. You should not—"

"Yes, Mother." Lila probably listed all of the things her mother have said to her every morning.

1. Do not disobey your husband.

2. Do not do anything to upset him.

3. Be desirable.

'All of these "Do not's" are engraved in my young, poor brain. How unhappy you must be, Mother?' Lila contemplated silently.

Lila Elara Forbes Montgrave, the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke and renowned Knight of the Southern Empire, Noah Montgrave, ascended to the role of Crown Princess from the moment of her birth. Aside from her royal lineage, her father's status as one of the wealthiest individuals in the empire is a defining aspect of her upbringing. His absence from home, engrossed in his duties, is a constant in Lila's life.

"Your father will be going home tonight." Lila's mother stated.

Pure joy was plastered all over Lila's face.

As her mother walked out the door, she said, "You look like your father."

Her mother, Agatha Blanche Forbes, hailed from the esteemed Forbes family, known for their vast business empire in the Southern Empire Azro. Despite her mother's wealth and noble lineage, Lila couldn't help but feel a sense of disillusionment as she learned the truth behind her parents' marriage, shattering her childhood illusions of true love.

As the hours passed and the moon cast its silver glow upon the estate, the return of Lila's father was heralded by the echoing sound of a horse carriage. Ignoring her mother's frantic calls and the attempts of her maid to restrain her, Lila dashed down the hallway with reckless abandon, fueled by excitement to see her father once more.

"Oh no—" Her mother's scream rang out as Lila missed a step on the stairs, bracing herself for a fall. But strong arms caught her, pulling her back from the brink. It was the Crown Prince, her fiancé, Mateo with his dazzling golden hair and mesmerizing blue eyes.

Carried like a precious treasure, Lila reached out eagerly to her father, unable to contain her joy at his return. She showered him with affection, "You're back, I missed you,"

As her mother intervened, guiding her away to greet the Crown Prince, Lila couldn't shake the surreal feeling of the moment. Here she was, face to face with the man who would one day be her husband, her heart fluttering with anticipation.

"Greet the Crown Prince, Your Highness," her mother whispered, a reminder of the responsibilities that awaited her.

"I, Lila Elara, the eldest daughter of Montgrave, extend my sincerest greetings to you, Prince Mateo. It is with utmost respect and honor that I stand before you today," Lila stood before her intended with rehearsed words upon her lips, each repetition a reminder of the consequences of failure in noble society. She felt the weight of expectation pressing down on her.

"You forgot to add the Crown Princess of the Southern Empire Azro. Nonetheless, I am very honored to finally meet my future wife," he said, his touch gentle as he took her hand and spoke with a captivating charm that stirred an unexpected flutter in her heart.

Her pulse quickened as he kissed her hand, leaving her momentarily flustered. "I will remember that, Your Highness," she replied with a smile, attempting to maintain her composure.

As he prepared to depart, his gaze shifted to her father. "Grand Duke, I will be writing you letters," he stated before taking his leave, leaving Lila to ponder the implications of their impending union.

'It was a short encounter, but I cannot explain what I was feeling. Am I falling in love? It can't be, am I too easy? I cannot be swayed by a beautiful man.' Lila uttered to herself.

Weeks had passed, and all Lila received from the Crown Prince were love letters and gifts. At this point, she couldn't deny the growing feelings stirring within her.

"My lady, there's another letter for you from the Crown Prince!" her maid exclaimed, hurrying towards her.

"Annie, be careful," Lila cautioned, her anticipation evident as she accepted the letter.

Opening the rose-scented envelope, Lila's heart fluttered with excitement, eager to read the words penned by her beloved.

My Love,

I have been exploring other states. What gift would you like me to bring? I cannot wait to see your beautiful eyes. Every time we spoke, I enjoyed it, and I wish I could hear you speak. How exciting it must have been to feel your presence? I will be back and come to you. Wait for me.

With all love, 

Mateo.

Annie giggled like a young girl who just got her favorite doll. Lila, too, helplessly shrieked.

'I didn't know that I was blatantly betrayed by the same man who showed me nothing but love.' 

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

A week had passed since Lila received the ominous letter, and silence had enveloped her world ever since. As she gazed out of her window, rain cascaded down, accompanied by the booming thunder that shook the manor.

Suddenly, her father burst into her room, his clothes stained with blood, his urgency was visible. Trembling, Lila's heart raced as she heard screams echoing throughout the house. She glanced towards her door and saw Annie lying there, wounded and bleeding.

"But, Father!" Lila protested, her voice quivering with fear.

"There's no time. Run away," her father urged, leading her to a hidden passage. With a sword in hand, he pressed a bag of gold into her trembling fingers.

"Never look back. Run away, quickly," he instructed before locking the door behind her and disappearing back into the mansion.

Her mind reeling, Lila's feet carried her away from the chaos, each step a blur of confusion and fear.

"Never look back."

Her brief break came when she encountered a horse carriage bearing the royal crest.

'Could it be? Was the Crown Prince coming for me? It's a lion with a crown!' Lila pondered.

Despite the downpour, the golden-haired figure of the Crown Prince still shone brightly. But his eyes...

Approaching the Crown Prince tentatively, Lila greeted him with forced politeness, her inner turmoil carefully concealed. "Your Highness," she addressed him politely, her voice steady despite the ruckus within her mind.

As she reached out to him, her desperation palpable, Lila's vulnerability was laid bare. "You came for me?" she asked, her tone tinged with a hint of desperation, her hands extended in a plea for reassurance.

'Shamelessly, I extended my hands towards him, seeking solace, a plea for reassurance, a glimmer of hope. I abandoned all pretense, allowing my desperation to spill.' Lila muttered to herself.

"Arrest the traitor's daughter!" At the guard's command to arrest her, Lila's bafflement was evident as she shot a glare in his direction.

A man with glasses, evidently a trusted advisor, stepped forward, addressing Lila with respect. "My Lady," he began, his demeanor exuding an air of authority.

Descending from the carriage, Crown Prince Mateo's expression was filled with disdain as he addressed Lila. "It seems that this lady is not aware of her father's wrongdoing," His words cut through the air like a blade, his gaze piercing.

As Mateo drew closer, his hand lifting her chin gently, Lila felt a tremor run through her. "Your father, the Grand Duke of Montgrave, a renowned knight, conspired with the Northern Empire Ezra to dethrone the entire Southern Empire Azro, my family," His accusation against her father sent shivers down her spine, and she struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. 

"My father would never do that!" Lila protested, her voice rising in defiance.

Mateo's response was swift and unforgiving. "Arrest the traitor," he commanded, turning away from Lila without a second glance.

'A feeling of betrayal washed over me as I watched him walked away from me. Helplessly, my hopes for salvation were dashed in an instant. I had foolishly hoped that he would save me.' Lila silently pondered.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

Helplessly lying on the cold, hard floor, Lila couldn't fathom that a pure-blooded noble like herself would ever find herself in such a predicament.

Examining her hands, she noticed a piece of paper carefully hidden between her palms.

My Lady,

I am writing this with a sword pinned in my neck. My conscience could never bear this. I believe that I hold the truth. The Crown Prince knew that the Northern Empire Ezra was going to invade the Southern Empire Azro. However, the invasion at the Montgrave estate was plotted by the Crown Prince Mateo, himself. He accused the Grand Duke of treason.

'That bastard! I do not know if this is the truth. However, the only truth I know by heart is that my father would never be a traitor.' Lila exclaimed in her mind.

The prison door creaked open, and Lila found herself being dragged out by the guard. Her legs felt weak, and she realized her feet were caked with dirt, a testament to her time spent in the dingy cell.

Emerging into the daylight, Lila was struck by the realization that it had been a day since she was imprisoned in the foul-smelling dungeon. The clamor of the crowd reached her ears, their cries for her execution echoing throughout the kingdom.

"Kill the traitor!"

"Kill her!"

But what truly caught her off guard were the cold, piercing blue eyes of her fiancé, Mateo, the Crown Prince of the Southern Empire Azro. With his sword pointed at her neck, he uttered the chilling question, "Any last words?"

Closing her eyes, Lila braced herself as she reached out to touch the sharp blade against her delicate skin. The floor beneath her feet was soon stained crimson with her blood.

As she cast a final glance at the new Crown Princess, standing proud with her striking features, Lila couldn't help but marvel at her beauty. How could she hate such a radiant creature?

"I, Lila Elara, the eldest daughter of the Montgrave, will remember this day."