Chapter 1 · Palace Of Deception

In the side chamber of Virethar Palacem, I murmured, "Please... take me."

I felt burned, my mind foggy. All I could do was cling to the man on top of me, instinct guiding my grasp.

From beyond the wall, the main hall of Virethar Palace glowed with red candlelight.

Laughter and joy floated over, each sound stabbing my heart like a thousand needles.

Tonight should have been my wedding night. The Crown Prince should have been my husband.

But now, holding my title and parading in glory, it was Serena Johnson who wed him.

She was the impostor who stole fifteen years of my life.

And I, the Johnson family's true heir, was left in the farthest corner of the eastern palace, burning, disoriented, and abandoned.

*****

My clothes were already a mess, hairpins and jewelry scattered across the floor.

The man's breath was hot and heavy, washing over my neck again and again.

Without thinking, my hand slipped inside his robe and found his solid chest.

The last bit of my self-control disappeared as soon as I felt his heartbeat thumping beneath my palm.

The sound of fabric tearing was especially jarring in the quiet.

Then came a storm of kisses, raining down on my earlobe, neck, and collarbone...

Every touch burned, sending shivers through me.

I couldn't help but let out a soft moan, and that only made him claim me with even more intensity.

Rage and humiliation spread through me like wild weeds, choking my heart with pain.

It was Serena Johnson. She plotted against me.

That morning, she held my hand and cried, bringing me a bowl of sweet broth. "Annabella, I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "Please, drink this as my apology."

And I actually believed her.

Half a year ago, when I was first found and returned to the Johnson family, Serena cried just like that, promising she'd give everything back to me.

But it was all just a show.

She had drugged that sweet broth.

Not long after I drank it, my whole body went limp, my vision blurred, and I was barely conscious as someone dragged me around for ages before tossing me onto this hard bed.

Then, the man entered, looming over me as my world spun out of control.

I wanted to cry out for help, but my throat was useless. I tried to shove him away, but my hands were limp and powerless.

The celebration outside only grew louder, each burst of laughter hammering at my heart.

A sudden, piercing pain made me arch up, my fingernails digging desperately into his shoulders.

He silenced me with a deep kiss, swallowing every sound I tried to make.

They really had it all figured out.

Everyone in Virethar Palace was caught up in the festivities. Who would care about what happened in this remote side room?

Once the deed was done, Serena would show up with witnesses and expose me, and that would be the end of me.

Forget about being Laurence's wife, I wouldn't even be able to stay with the Johnson family. I'd be shut away in a nunnery for the rest of my life.

Tears streamed down my face, but I bit my lip so hard I thought it might bleed, refusing to let a single sound escape.

What was the point of crying?

Would crying make Serena give me back my place as the Crown Princess? Would it make my parents even spare a glance for their real daughter like me?

Of course not.

I'd figured it out long ago, these past six months.

In my parents' eyes, Serena was the perfect, elegant daughter they'd raised for fifteen years.

But I was just a country bumpkin who brought shame to the Johnson family.

They probably just turned a blind eye to all of this, didn't they?

If not, how could it be such a coincidence that right after I was drugged, I ended up in this remote chamber of Virethar Palace?

His movements suddenly slowed.

In the dim candlelight, I could barely make out his face—deep-set eyes, a straight nose, his forehead slick with sweat.

His gaze was deep, like the quiet ocean at night. Even while he was claiming me so boldly, his eyes were gentle, like he was gazing at a treasure.

For a moment, I felt like I'd seen that look before.

Ridiculous. There was no way I knew him.

In a haze, I heard him whisper in my ear, his voice hoarse and low. "Don't be afraid."

I trembled.

That simple "Don't be afraid" struck something deep inside me, and suddenly, the tears flowed even harder.

Yeah, I was scared. How could I not be?

But hate burnt hotter than fear.

I hated Serena for stealing everything from me, hated my parents for always picking her, hated this insane bride swap, and most of all, I hated myself for being so helpless right now.

Pain and unfamiliar sensations crashed over me like relentless waves, nearly washing away the last bit of my consciousness.

But right in the middle of this feverish haze, a shard of icy clarity suddenly pierced my mind.

My body had already been taken from me.

Crying out, begging, or wallowing in despair—none of that would do anything but make them feel even more triumphant.

If my innocence was gone and my reputation was already in tatters... then I sure as hell wasn't going to let this loss be for nothing.

Chapter 1

In the side chamber of Virethar Palacem, I murmured, "Please... take me."

I felt burned, my mind foggy. All I could do was cling to the man on top of me, instinct guiding my grasp.

From beyond the wall, the main hall of Virethar Palace glowed with red candlelight.

Laughter and joy floated over, each sound stabbing my heart like a thousand needles.

Tonight should have been my wedding night. The Crown Prince should have been my husband.

But now, holding my title and parading in glory, it was Serena Johnson who wed him.

She was the impostor who stole fifteen years of my life.

And I, the Johnson family's true heir, was left in the farthest corner of the eastern palace, burning, disoriented, and abandoned.

*****

My clothes were already a mess, hairpins and jewelry scattered across the floor.

The man's breath was hot and heavy, washing over my neck again and again.

Without thinking, my hand slipped inside his robe and found his solid chest.

The last bit of my self-control disappeared as soon as I felt his heartbeat thumping beneath my palm.

The sound of fabric tearing was especially jarring in the quiet.

Then came a storm of kisses, raining down on my earlobe, neck, and collarbone...

Every touch burned, sending shivers through me.

I couldn't help but let out a soft moan, and that only made him claim me with even more intensity.

Rage and humiliation spread through me like wild weeds, choking my heart with pain.

It was Serena Johnson. She plotted against me.

That morning, she held my hand and cried, bringing me a bowl of sweet broth. "Annabella, I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "Please, drink this as my apology."

And I actually believed her.

Half a year ago, when I was first found and returned to the Johnson family, Serena cried just like that, promising she'd give everything back to me.

But it was all just a show.

She had drugged that sweet broth.

Not long after I drank it, my whole body went limp, my vision blurred, and I was barely conscious as someone dragged me around for ages before tossing me onto this hard bed.

Then, the man entered, looming over me as my world spun out of control.

I wanted to cry out for help, but my throat was useless. I tried to shove him away, but my hands were limp and powerless.

The celebration outside only grew louder, each burst of laughter hammering at my heart.

A sudden, piercing pain made me arch up, my fingernails digging desperately into his shoulders.

He silenced me with a deep kiss, swallowing every sound I tried to make.

They really had it all figured out.

Everyone in Virethar Palace was caught up in the festivities. Who would care about what happened in this remote side room?

Once the deed was done, Serena would show up with witnesses and expose me, and that would be the end of me.

Forget about being Laurence's wife, I wouldn't even be able to stay with the Johnson family. I'd be shut away in a nunnery for the rest of my life.

Tears streamed down my face, but I bit my lip so hard I thought it might bleed, refusing to let a single sound escape.

What was the point of crying?

Would crying make Serena give me back my place as the Crown Princess? Would it make my parents even spare a glance for their real daughter like me?

Of course not.

I'd figured it out long ago, these past six months.

In my parents' eyes, Serena was the perfect, elegant daughter they'd raised for fifteen years.

But I was just a country bumpkin who brought shame to the Johnson family.

They probably just turned a blind eye to all of this, didn't they?

If not, how could it be such a coincidence that right after I was drugged, I ended up in this remote chamber of Virethar Palace?

His movements suddenly slowed.

In the dim candlelight, I could barely make out his face—deep-set eyes, a straight nose, his forehead slick with sweat.

His gaze was deep, like the quiet ocean at night. Even while he was claiming me so boldly, his eyes were gentle, like he was gazing at a treasure.

For a moment, I felt like I'd seen that look before.

Ridiculous. There was no way I knew him.

In a haze, I heard him whisper in my ear, his voice hoarse and low. "Don't be afraid."

I trembled.

That simple "Don't be afraid" struck something deep inside me, and suddenly, the tears flowed even harder.

Yeah, I was scared. How could I not be?

But hate burnt hotter than fear.

I hated Serena for stealing everything from me, hated my parents for always picking her, hated this insane bride swap, and most of all, I hated myself for being so helpless right now.

Pain and unfamiliar sensations crashed over me like relentless waves, nearly washing away the last bit of my consciousness.

But right in the middle of this feverish haze, a shard of icy clarity suddenly pierced my mind.

My body had already been taken from me.

Crying out, begging, or wallowing in despair—none of that would do anything but make them feel even more triumphant.

If my innocence was gone and my reputation was already in tatters... then I sure as hell wasn't going to let this loss be for nothing.