Chapter 1

Emerson Bradshaw, the Crown Prince, had returned from a royal tour of Floriscen on behalf of the King and brought back a woman named Danielle Everett.

Danielle said she was from a distant place where only monogamy was allowed, and men couldn't have concubines.

The first time Danielle met me, she spoke with superiority, "I will only be Prince Emerson's lawful wife. I won't share him with anyone else."

I stared at her rounded belly, perplexed. "Monogamy? But I've been engaged to Prince Emerson since childhood, and our wedding is just a month away. What should I do?"

Emerson said, "Danielle's pregnancy is unstable. Why don't you give way to her for now? Once she gives birth, I'll welcome you back."

I laughed. My father, Albert Robertson, was the general of the kingdom. He commanded every soldier in the realm.

No matter who wore the crown, the position of Crown Princess was mine by right. No one could ever take it from me.

*****

Danielle stroked her belly, her face full of pride. "Here, a woman's status depends on her child. Now that I'm carrying Prince Emerson's child, you should step aside and let me take your place."

"Where I come from, only monogamy is allowed. Emerson promised he'd only be my husband. You're still young. Why not go find someone else to marry?"

I stared at her, dumbfounded. I knew every word she said, but when she put them together, it was like she was speaking another language.

She didn't even bother with "Your Highness" and just called him Emerson.

And she was telling me, the would-be Crown Princess, to step aside and let her take over and find someone else to marry.

Before I could react, Emerson gently helped Danielle sit down and came over to me, his expression full of affection and helplessness. "Danielle is strong-willed. She sticks to her own beliefs.

"Give it time, and you'll see none of you can hold a candle to her. She's got brilliance and grace, nothing like you girls raised in the palace.

"I care about her, Josephine. You have to understand that I'm the Crown Prince, and sometimes, I have to put you in a tough spot.

"Danielle's pregnancy is unstable. Why don't you give way to her for now? Once she gives birth, I'll welcome you back to the Spraton Palace."

Danielle looked at me with a smug grin, acting all high and mighty, like she was there to teach me a life lesson. "We women need to be more independent.

"We shouldn't cling to men. Even as women, we should have our own dreams and live for ourselves."

I couldn't care less about her opinions. My only concern was that I was the Crown Princess, the future Queen.

My father was the general, who commanded the entire army. I was the Crown Princess, handpicked by the King himself.

Our wedding was just a month away, but Emerson said he wanted to marry some random commoner.

The news that Emerson had brought a woman back to the palace quickly reached the Queen, Rosemary's ears. The very next day, a royal attendant came to summon me to the palace.

It was the day when the court ladies gathered to pay their respects to Rosemary. Danielle, carefully escorted by Emerson, entered the grand hall.

Instead of curtsying, she stood tall, her head held high, and announced loudly, "Queen Rosemary."

Rosemary's brows furrowed, and Emerson quickly explained, "Mother, Danielle isn't familiar with palace etiquette yet, and she's pregnant.

"I'll make sure someone teaches her the proper rules. I'm sure you'll grow fond of her in time."

With a bright, confident smile, Emerson took Danielle's hand and brought her forward. "Danielle is brilliant. She helped me out of countless jams in Floriscen.

"We're deeply in love, and now she's expecting my child. I want her to be the Crown Princess."

Suddenly, every court lady's gaze snapped to me. Some looked at me with pity, while others were clearly waiting for the drama, as if they couldn't wait to see me humiliated.

With a loud crash, Rosemary's cup hit the floor and shattered into pieces. Her voice shook as she demanded, "Emerson, do you even understand what you're saying?

"Your marriage to Josephine has been proclaimed to the whole kingdom. It's not something you can undo at your whim.

"She is blameless. If you renege on your promise, how will the people view you?"

Danielle lifted her chin, full of pride, and said loudly, "Queen Rosemary, Emerson may be the Crown Prince, but he has his own will.

"If he can't even choose his own wife, how could he rule the kingdom? Wouldn't that make him just a weakling who hides behind his parents?"

The court ladies all drew in a sharp breath. Seriously, no one else in the kingdom would ever dare speak to Rosemary like that.

Rosemary's face was cold and unreadable, but Emerson looked utterly convinced. He gave Danielle a look full of affection.

Then, he declared resolutely, "Even though I'm engaged to Josephine, the wedding hasn't happened yet. This time, I want to take charge of my own fate.

"Mother, Danielle is already carrying your first royal heir. Can you really turn a blind eye to that?"

Rosemary closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. After so many years in the palace, her heart had long since turned to stone.