All were gathered in the grand palace hall to witness the recrowning ceremony that was taking place.

A beautiful young woman stood on the stage at the front hall where a palace official went to her and placed a traditional ornament in her hair marking her the new Crown princess of the empire. All were focused on the new Crown Princess, but they also couldn't help but try to get a glimpse of the former Crown Princess, Tanya Edom, who was seated near the front of the audience. They were curious to see how she was reacting.

Tanya had never felt so embarrassed in all her life. She could feel all the eyes on her, but she did her best to remain calm and act unbothered but in reality, she just wanted to break down and cry. Thoughts of how things had turned out this way came to her mind.

She remembered her conversation with the prince when he broke the news of his decision.

 ***

"Tanya your title as crown princess will be revoked and you will instead become my lover. Later on, you will become my concubine when I succeed the throne," the Crown Prince had announced to Tanya. "Lady Celeste will be crowned the new Crown Princess."

Tanya's eyes widened in horror at his announcement. She had been excited to have been summoned by the prince to come to his office but she hadn't expected this to be what he had to say to her. 

"What do you mean? I don't understand," she asked him. Not sure if she had heard him correctly.

"I know you heard me," he coldly responded.

Her lips pressed into a thin line realizing he was serious. 

"Crown Prince, why are you doing this? You surely can't be replacing me with a mere commoner?" I asked him in disbelief.

"Don't you dare talk about my Celeste in that way! She may be of humble birth but she's more beautiful and fairer-skinned than you. She knows her place. Far more feminine than you, a more suitable companion for a prince," he told her.

Tanya's lips trembled at the hurtful comparisons.

"Where did I go wrong?" wondering why she just couldn't despite all her efforts. "I've done my best to do everything to your liking

"Where haven't you gone wrong? you're so annoying, everywhere I am you appear always following me around. You're like a mosquito that can't be killed."

Tanya felt a sharp pang in her chest at his blunt words. He was referring to the many times she went to him to try to impress him.

"Because nothing I do ever seems to impress you," she told him. "Tell me what I can do to make you like me."

"Seeing you beg like this is so unbecoming. Getting away from me that's where you can start. When I need you, I'll call for you. I'm so tired of you following me around. So, stop coming to me." he told her.

"There's nothing you can do to change my mind. You can change your dresses a million times, and do your makeup in different ways, but you'll still be the same pathetic woman," he coldly said.

 Her tears were threatening to escape at any moment the more he said.

"You always think you're so smart and that you are better than everyone else, I'm so tired of it. A woman should be a man's peace but all you ever do is leave me in pieces."

She had been trying so hard to impress him, but it only seemed to draw him away from her.

Tanya was a smart girl, and the prince never liked the fact she always seemed to be better than him or was challenging him. To regain his affection, she often had to dumb down her capabilities to make him feel more comfortable but it wasn't enough.

"The ceremony will be in four days. I want you to make preparations for it," he ordered her.

Her eyes winded in horror so not only was she going to be replaced by her but she was the one who had to prepare for her ceremony as well.

"But—" she tried to plead with Malek.

"There are no ifs', ands' or buts', my decision is final. You will be reduced to my lover whether you like it or not," he told her.

Tanya was absolutely devastated she couldn't believe it, this couldn't be happening. She had worked so hard to be the crown Princess of the empire and to one day ta and now the position was completely being taken

She bit her bottom lip and fought back tear as she had no choice but to bow and accept his order. "Yes, Your Highness," she said.

"Good, then you may leave," he said irritated by her presence.

She then stood up and made to leave the room with a heavy heart.

*******************************

Now as she sat in the grand palace hall watching the former Crown Prince's lover officially take her former position, she felt so helpless. Lady Celeste knelt on stage and had the ornament symbolizing the crown princess's position was placed on her head by the attendant in conducting of the ceremony.

Celeste stood up and bowed before the crowd. "I present to you the new Crown Princess Celeste," the attendant announced.

Everyone in the hall cheered for her. Celeste looked at the crowd before her eyes landed on her.

Crown Prince Malek who had been waiting nearby the stage went onto it and took Celeste's hand.

Tanya had to organize everything for this ceremony from the outfit Celeste wore, her chosen hairstyle, and her jewelry to all the decorations in the grand palace hall. It had been so painful for her to organize this.

It was a struggle for Tanya not to choke up and cry right there and then in the room but with all eyes on her how would that make her look? The situation was already embarrassing as it was.

After the ceremony had ended, and the Crown Princess and Crown Prince had left, Tanya immediately stood up from her seat and ran out the room. All eyes were on her and she didn't want to feel awkward any longer. More importantly she wanted to avoid someone else.

 Tanya thought Celeste would simply remain his lover maybe she Now as Tanya had just watched Lady Celeste officially get crowned to be the crown princess, she now saw she was completely wrong. the reality then sunk in.

"Tanya!" she heard a familiar voice say.

Once she recognized the voice almost immediately she increased her speed, she couldn't face him now. It was her brother, Master Edom.

She couldn't bring herself to face her family. Not after she had disgraced them like this. She had wanted to make her family proud by becoming Empress.

Not only did she want to make her family proud but she genuinely had feelings for the prince. He was her first love. At age 15 she had solidified the position and now, at age 22, she had become a laughingstock by losing it all to someone who wasn't even of noble birth.