Chapter 2

I never would've guessed that falling in love was where all my troubles began.

Three years ago, my elder brother, the crown prince, suddenly fell ill and passed away. The ten-year-old crown prince was crowned king.

At the same time, Jennifer Barnes, daughter of General Damian Barnes, snuck off to the Aurelion for some adventure. But she accidentally killed Jonathan's wife, which set off a war between the two houses.

Jennifer was forced to become a hostage, held captive in the Aurelion.

In the end, the Valencrest had the upper hand, but General Damian Barnes gave his life for his homeland. His last wish was for Jennifer to be brought home safe and sound.

The Barnes family had served the Valencrest loyally for three generations. Matthew, the Grand Chancellor and a peace advocate, was sent to negotiate with the Aurelion on behalf of the Valencrest.

The result of the negotiations was that Princess Cecilia would be sent to the Aurelion as a hostage for three years, in exchange for Jennifer's safe return. This deal restored peace between the two houses.

The day I found out I'd been chosen, I rushed to find Matthew. But as I stood outside his door, I overheard him talking to someone else.

"Doesn't Cecilia have a crush on you? Why did you pick her?" the other person asked.

Matthew replied coolly, "She's way too loud. I just want some peace for once."

My feet froze in place.

"Besides, Jennifer saved my life. Back when everything went crazy, I was seriously hurt, and she was the one who pulled me through," Matthew said, his voice calm.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I burst in through the door.

"Matt! It wasn't her, it was me! I'm the one who saved you!" I shouted.

Back then, when Matthew was out on campaign as the strategist, he got ambushed by the enemy. I pretended to be sick for a whole month just so I could sneak out of the palace and track him down. I was the one who brought him back from the brink.

All I wanted was for him to live. I never meant to use that as leverage to make him fall for me.

Plus, my brother was already gravely ill. I was terrified he'd be furious if he found out I'd snuck out, so I kept it to myself.

But in the end, he thought it was Jennifer who'd saved him.

Our eyes met. I was full of hope, but all I saw in his eyes was a flash of contempt.

"Your Highness, you really have no class at all," he said coldly. "You've been pampered your whole life, never cared about your country, not even a little bit. And now you actually want to take credit for what someone else did?"

"No, it really was me who saved you! Please, you have to believe me! I snuck out of the palace behind my brother's back..." I pleaded.

"Jennifer is a general's daughter, a real hero. Of course she could save me," he said, cutting me off. "But you? What could you possibly do to save me?"

He let out a cold laugh. "Nice try. Don't think I'm that gullible."

And just like that, Matthew sent me off to the Aurelion as a hostage.

When I arrived, Jonathan lashed out at me, blaming me for his wife's death. He ordered his men to throw me straight into the water dungeon.

I was only finally released when the Valencrest sent another envoy.

And as it turned out, the envoy from the Valencrest was none other than Jennifer herself.

When she got back to Valencrest, Matthew defied all opposition and secured her an official position, something no woman had ever achieved before.

I secretly wrote her a letter, describing what I'd really been through while I was held in the Aurelion, and asked her to deliver it to Matthew.

Jennifer accepted the letter with a cheerful smile and said, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I'll make sure Matthew gets it."

I used to hope that once Matthew read my letter and realized the Aurelion had betrayed us, he'd come for me himself.

But what I got instead was Jonathan's wrath.

That day, I was beaten until I could barely breathe. He grabbed my chin and snarled, "You really thought you could sneak a note out? Do you have any idea who told me to treat you this way?

"The very day you showed up, Matthew had Jennifer tell me you were sent here for me to vent all my rage on.

"He told me to show you what real obedience looks like."

Whip after whip landed on me, each strike burning like fire.

That was when I finally realized Matthew really did despise me.

And I loved him anyway.

I learned royal embroidery just for him, pricking my fingers until they were sore, all so I could make him the most beautiful embroidered pouch anyone had ever seen.

His stomach was always acting up, and he'd work late into the night. So I'd sneak into the kitchen, make him a warm soup, and keep watch over it all night long.

Since he preferred peace and quiet, I did my best to tone down my playful side, preparing his ink, sitting with him while he read and wrote, just to keep him company.

Even my brother used to get jealous, saying I was way too devoted to Matthew.

I followed behind him, careful not to make a sound, just wishing he'd look at me, even for a moment.

If I bothered him, if he didn't care about me, he could've just told me to leave, or brushed me off.

But he didn't. Instead, he ended up punishing me like this, just because he couldn't stand having me around.