Renouncing the Emperor's Heart

The Beginning

Empress Jovine de Tristaine first realized she was in love on the day he proposed to her.

It didn't matter if the marriage was arranged. Nor did her expectation of a loveless union. She would fall for him inevitably.

Born the sole daughter of the noble Rainer family, Jovine was infallibly considered to be an incomparable contender for Crown Princess, and blindly molded to one day be the wife to the heir of the Theolos Empire. With her mother's covetous gaze on her daughter's ascension and her father's familiarity with the Emperor, there was no path as predetermined as her future nuptials.

She had first met the brooding Prince at the tender age of seven. Three years older and two heads taller, he had towered over her small frame, looking regal and threatening with harsh dark blue eyes that narrowed in on the timid girl in front of him. Since then, she couldn't help but find fear in the cold presence of the boy she was meant to win over.

It wasn't until they were older that she started noticing his alluring charm.

His brash personality hadn't changed much, but he grew to be devastatingly beautiful with a luscious mane of dark hair, deep blue eyes that tracked her with unknown intent, and a sharpness that made him feel strong and dominating. But the most disastrous change was when he started to smile in front of her. It was the way he let his guard down that had her falling.

She could still remember the night it all changed.

On the night of the Winter Solstice Ball—and the eve of her fourteenth birthday—Jovine had snuck out of the Palace Ballroom with a smuggled napkin full of chocolates. After days of eating under the watchful eye of her mother, she couldn't resist the seductive temptation of decadent sweets piled high in mountains of sugar and luxury. So, after discreetly plucking a few from the plate of her third brother, Edgar, she stuffed them into her napkin and made her way to the Gardens outside.

With only the night sky as her witness, Jovine had hidden behind a marble fountain and stuffed her face with rich chocolates that melted on her tongue. She had closed her eyes, letting a small cry of delight escape her lips as she enjoyed her dessert, surrounded by dazzling lights and endless green.

It wasn't until she heard the soft padding of footsteps falling behind her that she realized her escapade would be short-lived. Swiftly discarding the evidence of her indulgence in the band of her velvet gown, she had turned to quietly retreat, only to find the Crown Prince staring at her inquisitively.

"Y-Your Highness," she had sputtered, quickly lowering herself into a clumsy curtsy.

He was silent, and when she glanced up, she found his expression curious.

"What are you doing out here alone?"

With wide eyes, she had lied. "I-I wanted to...admire the stars."

Richard pressed his lips together, and she feared he was displeased. Her cheeks flamed, flustered by the confrontation.

With a dramatic wave of her hand to the lightless sky above, she offered a wobbly smile. "The stars are as majestic as your presence tonight, Your Highness."

A burst of laughter from the Prince had her lips parting in shock. It was the first time she had ever seen him smile. In fact, she never knew he had a small dimple in his left cheek. He was simply magnificent.

Richard had stepped into her as she remained frozen on the spot, enraptured by the rare sight of his brilliant smile to react to his sudden proximity. With a gentle touch, he caressed her face.

Her heart galloped furiously.

What was happening?

The gentle stroke of his thumb across her lips had her jerking back in surprise. Looking amused, he examined his stained finger.