The rejected crown (book 1)

Prologe

In the 15th century, the year 1565

The throne of Aravell stood empty, cold as the stone walls around it. King Alaric was gone, and with him went the fragile peace he had held together. His last wish—to see his daughter, Princess Giovanna, take the crown—stirred fury among the lords of the realm. No woman had ever ruled Aravell, and many whispered that none ever should. Plots formed in dark corners, and eyes once loyal to her father now watched Giovanna with doubt and suspicion.

Giovanna felt every stare as she stood in the great hall. The weight of her father's legacy pressed hard on her shoulders. The lords and courtiers who had once bent the knee to him now schemed against her. To them, she was a girl pretending to be queen. But Giovanna would not back down. She would fight for her birthright, even if she had to stand alone.

Far from the castle's walls, in a small village forgotten by most, lived Jane. Branded an outcast and called a witch, she hid in plain sight with her mother, selling charms and simple spells to those in need. Life was harsh and every day was a battle to survive. Jane knew the danger that stalked her kind—hunters and laws that saw no place for people like her. She would not run forever. One day, she would make them pay for their cruelty.

Ser Edweyn rode across the realm, a knight loyal to the crown. With the kingdom fracturing, his oath bound him to protect it. But loyalty had become a heavy burden. The realm was tearing itself apart, and Edweyn would have to decide how far his duty truly went.

And then Ezra stumbled through the mist and into a world he'd only read about in dusty history books—Aravell, 15th century. Confusion gripped him; knights, castles, and whispers of rebellion surrounded him, all too real and far from the pages he knew. He was lost and out of place, a modern man trapped in a time of swords and schemes. But as the kingdom spiraled toward chaos, he realized he had a role to play—whether he wanted it or not.