Chapter 1

On my twentieth birthday, my fiancé, Oliver Patel returned victorious from war.

Before the king, he knelt and pleaded, "Your Majesty, grant me a marriage. Wendy Bennett once saved my life—please let me repay her."

Hidden behind a pillar, I froze.

Oliver and I were childhood sweetheart. My heart had long belonged to him, and my father, the king, had already betrothed me to him.

For six long years under everyone's increasingly mocking eyes, I waited—letting him fight for our kingdom, to chase glory, believing he would come back for me.

But when he finally did, it was to beg for another woman's hand.

In that moment, something inside me went cold. I asked father to grant Oliver's wish.

Then, I accepted the proposal of Lord Noah Hughes, who'd asked for my hand.

On the day Oliver went to fetch his bride, I set out for my own wedding.

Our carriages passed each other on the road, never to cross paths again in this lifetime.

*****

On my twentieth birthday, my father, the king told me he had a special gift for me.

When my maid came to report, I immediately knew what the big surprise was.

My fiancé, the cavalry general Oliver Patel, had come home.

He was finally back.

I could still remember the day six years ago when he rode out in full armor, leading his army to war.

I couldn't wait to see him.

Inside the grand hall, the soldiers stood in neat rows, waiting anxiously for my father to hand out the honors.

Oliver strode forward, his armor gleaming, practically lighting up the whole room. That strong, striking face of his was just as dazzling as it had been all those years ago. I felt my heart fluttering.

I hid behind a pillar in the hall, my heart pounding in my chest.

Before my father could speak, Oliver sank down on one knee and said, "Your Majesty, I have one wish I hope you'll grant."

With Oliver being both a national hero and soon to become his royal son-in-law, my father couldn't help but laugh heartily.

"Whatever your wish is, just say the word—I promise to grant it," my father replied.

"I wish to marry the commoner, Wendy Bennett," Oliver declared.

Shocked gasps rippled through the entire hall.

Everybody in the capital knew that six years ago, Oliver and I had been engaged. If he hadn't marched off to war, we would've already been married by now.

My father's expression grew cold. "Lord Oliver, do you still remember your engagement to Princess Sofia?"

Oliver's body stiffened, but he quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I would never forget it. But six years ago, I was ambushed while leading our forces. I lay dying in the snow—and it was Wendy who saved my life.

"Because of that, I owe her my life. Please allow me to marry her."

I was frozen in shock, staring at Oliver, completely unable to believe what I was hearing.

I still remembered when I came of age, he had personally tucked a rose hair pin into my hair in the rose garden.

"Oliver, I want to be the only one you love. I don't want anyone to come between us, okay?" I asked, eyes full of hope.

I looked up at him, my eyes hopeful.

Oliver gently ran his fingers through my hair and whispered, "Okay."

Because of that, I waited for him for six long years, becoming the laughingstock of the whole capital—just a spinster princess.

But why? How could he break his word so easily?

I pressed my hand to my chest, a sharp, prickling pain gripping my heart.

My father roared in anger, "If you marry someone else, what will happen to Princess Sofia?"

Oliver stayed calm. "Princess Sofia will remain my wife, and Wendy is only a concubine. Wendy and I will serve the princess well. Princess Sofia will never suffer the slightest grievance."

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

So, in his eyes, I wasn't his wife at all—just a superior they were supposed to serve.

I marched out from where I hid, my voice cold and fierce as I said, "Oliver, if you owe her your life, surely there are other ways to repay her. Why must you marry her?"

Every head in the hall snapped toward me.

Some were just here for the drama, while others stared at me with thinly veiled contempt.

I knew they were all waiting for me to embarrass myself, eager to see how I would be shamed by her fiancé in public.

Oliver turned back and locked eyes with me for a moment. His gaze flickered with something I couldn't quite read, but then he quickly looked down.

When my father saw me, his face instantly softened into a smile. "Sofia, why are you here? Come stand next to me."

Then he turned to Oliver. "If you wish to repay Wendy, there are other ways—gold, silver, treasures, silk. I can grant Wendy anything she wants."

Oliver didn't say a word. He just continued to kneel there, perfectly still, his silence speaking volumes. It was a silent act of defiance.

I clutched my chest, feeling suffocated. "Oliver, are you serious about marrying her? Even if it means getting your rank stripped, losing your whole future, and becoming just another nobody?"

Oliver had always dreamed of protecting his country and becoming a general.

But more than that, he wanted to prove to everyone—even though he was born to a concubine of the High Chancellor—he could carve out his own legacy, and nobody would ever be able to trample on him again.

He stayed silent for ages, then finally raised his head. There was nothing but raw determination in his eyes.

"I am willing," he answered.

I clenched my fists tight, determined not to let myself cry.

I never imagined Oliver would be willing to throw away his future and all his dreams, just for Wendy.

Everyone in the hall exchanged glances before turning to my father.

They all knew that even though my father doted on me, he would never agree to strip Oliver of his rank.

Oliver had earned countless glories in battle—he was already a legend among the people.

If my father were to strip Oliver of all his honors and rank over something as trivial as wanting to marry another woman, people would think he was being petty. My father would risk losing the hearts of the people.

Even more importantly, if Oliver was reduced to a commoner, our social standings would be so far apart that we could never be properly matched again.

And to be honest, aside from Oliver, there wasn't a single man in the capital willing to take on the challenge of marrying me—the unruly spinster princess.

As expected, after thinking it over, my father finally spoke up, his tone almost negotiable. "How about we change the punishment?"

Oliver lowered his head to the floor and answered, "I am willing to accept any punishment, Your Majesty."

Staring at Oliver's determined figure still kneeling, I let out a sigh.

"Then spend the whole night kneeling outside the hall," I said.