Chapter 1

To secure the loyalty of the legendary undefeated general, my father the king married me off to him.

The moment I saw that face—so handsome it seemed divine—I figured fate had handed me a prize.

On the first day of marriage, I tried, over breakfast, to learn his tastes.

"Your Highness," he said quietly, "we don't talk while we eat, or while we sleep."

I clammed up.

The next day, I gave him a rabbit-shaped pouch I had embroidered myself.

He gave it a polite, distant glance. "If you need money, ask the steward. No need for hints."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Gradually, I gave up hope of ever thawing him.

Then my friend suggested I fake a cold so he'd have to take care of me.

Instead, he had his bags packed and said, "Illness spreads. I'll stay elsewhere until it passes."

I watched my last hope walk out the door behind him.

My only thought was to let someone else bargain for that marble heart—I was done trying.

*****

My father was such a wimp, always losing sleep over the idea that Alexander Forrest, the Eldoria Kingdom's fiercest general, might overthrow him one day.

So, to keep his crown glued to his head, he actually wanted to marry me off to Alexander.

That was the most insane thing I'd ever heard.

If I really ended up with Alexander, my plans for eight husbands and a harem the size of a football stadium were toast.

I flung the edict aside, ready to barge into my father's study and demand answers.

But just then, my personal maid, Lana, stepped in and blocked my way. After bowing, she handed me a scroll. "Your Highness, His Majesty sent this. It's a portrait of General Forrest."

I immediately caught on to what my father was scheming. I unrolled the scroll while scoffing, "So he thinks Alexander's looks can reel me in? He really thinks I'd fall for something like that?"

"Well, I totally would," I admitted.

Lana just looked at me, completely speechless.

In the painting, Alexander stood in gleaming armor, sword in hand, striding through the fires of battle at the war-torn frontier—like he was some god of war come to life.

I wiped the drool from my mouth and giggled like a fool. "Wow, just how many more surprises does Alexander have in store for me?"

And just like that, I, Pippa Lindsey, tied the knot with Alexander.

When Alexander shed his armor and rocked that wedding attire, he looked so ridiculously handsome that my heart basically short-circuited.

I was starting to feel like I'd really hit the jackpot.

But on our wedding night, Alexander stayed fully dressed beside me, not even giving me—his gorgeous, irresistible bride—a second look.

I forced myself to breathe and chill out.

After all, Alexander was the Eldoria Kingdom's infamous walking iceberg—totally immune to any feminine charm, and as stingy with words as they came.

I figured love had to crawl before it walked.

So, the next morning at breakfast, I tried to get Alexander to open up. I leaned forward, putting on my sweetest smile. "Alexander, what do you like to eat? Any favorite hobbies? Got a preferred brand of anything?"

Alexander looked up, giving me an utterly chill, emotionless stare.

Just when I thought he was about to answer and I could finally get the inside scoop, he said, "Your Highness, we don't talk while we eat, or while we sleep. That's proper etiquette. As royals, we're supposed to lead by example for everyone else."

I clammed up.

After blinking a lot of times in awkward silence, I forced a dignified smile. "You've got a point, Alexander," I replied.

And just like that, Alexander and I sat there like sworn enemies, eating in total silence—no words, no eye contact.

My first attempt at winning his heart? Total failure.

But as a fearless princess, I was not about to let a little setback get me down.

After breakfast, Alexander headed out to the training ground for his daily drills.

I secretly followed him and spent a good part of the morning spying on him, trying to see if there was anything he lacked.

But after all that, it turned out he didn't seem to need a thing.

My eyes lingered on his waist for a moment longer than I should have.

Alexander was dressed in black, and that outfit made his waist look so trim and defined that it was honestly impossible for me not to stare.

After a good, long look—totally innocent, I swore—I noticed his waist was bare, not a single accessory in sight.

I thought I should get him something to hang there.

I tapped my chin, thinking it over, and decided to embroider a rabbit-shaped pouch for him.

Without wasting another second, I dashed back to my room and got to work.

After stabbing my fingers dozens of times and pulling an all-nighter, I finally ended up with a lopsided rabbit-shaped pouch, with wild stitches sticking out, a huge head on a tiny body, and one ear ridiculously longer than the other.

The next morning, as soon as Alexander came back from court, I hopped right in front of him and blocked his way.

Blushing a little, I handed him the lopsided rabbit-shaped pouch and gently called out, "Alexander."

He stopped in his tracks, clearly caught off guard, his eyes quickly zeroing in on the pouch I was holding.

Just when I thought he'd be touched or at least show a hint of warmth, he said, "Your Highness, if you need money, ask the steward, Liam. No need for hints."

Then he added, "Besides, that pouch is so worn-out and ugly. It hardly befits royalty. I'll have someone replace it for you."

With that, Alexander thoughtfully ordered Wendy, a maid for me in his residence, to escort me off to Liam.

That night, I kept dreaming about the strange, slightly pitying looks Wendy and Liam kept throwing my way.