Vera, a young woman who once lived within the splendor of the royal palace, has built a quiet life far from its intrigues. However, her past refuses to stay buried when circumstances force her to reenter a world rife with danger, secrets, and betrayal. Her journey brings her face-to-face with Isadora, the estranged princess whose life has unraveled under her father's oppressive rule, and Samir Eckhardt, a charming yet morally ambiguous assassin with his own mysterious agenda. Together, they are drawn into a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the kingdom's corruption and a conspiracy that threatens them all. As old bonds are tested and unlikely alliances form, Vera must confront not only the shadows of her past but also the looming choices that could shape the kingdom's future-- and her own. *Chapters 0-4 will be posted in succession, and afterwards a new chapter will be posted every Saturday. ** Chapters are subject to formatting changes as I'm copying and pasting them from a Google Doc! Sometimes my italics do not transfer through and I have to re-add them all myself. Feel free to comment if there's an issue.