Dear Readers,

Welcome to the sprawling world of the Eryndral Empire, a land where power is the lifeblood of the elite, and the commoners live in their shadow. Here, secrets are currency, alliances are as fleeting as the seasons, and love? Love is often a weapon wielded with precision.

But not all stories begin in marble halls or gilded courts. No, our tale starts in a forgotten corner of grandeur—a small, weathered cottage tucked away behind the opulence of Cerynthian Hall. It is here that you'll meet Eimear Althaea, a girl who has learned to bloom in the quiet solitude of her uncle's garden, her life as unassuming as the wildflowers she tends. For years, she has been invisible to the noble world beyond the estate's towering gates, content to stay hidden... until fate, or perhaps something darker, drags her into the light.

And then, there's Valerian Drakos, the Duke of Velisar. To some, he is a hero of the empire, a man of honor who guards his legacy with an unyielding grip. To others, he is a predator cloaked in silk, a man who takes what he wants and never lets go. When his eyes find Eimear, it isn't affection that sparks within him, but obsession—a burning need to possess the one thing he cannot control.

Dear readers, this is not a simple tale of love or triumph. It is a story of power and fragility, of chains forged from gold and the struggle to break them. As you step into this world of splendor and shadows, prepare yourself. Eimear's path is not one of easy choices or simple truths. Her heart will be tested, her will pushed to its limits, and every step she takes will bring her closer to a freedom that might cost her everything.

So, are you ready to lose yourself in the secrets of Cerynthian Hall, to unravel the desires of a Duke who will stop at nothing, and to witness the rise of a girl who refuses to break?

Then come closer. The story is just beginning.