The Hero's Beloved One | Phaistelle AU
In the empire of Aedes Elysiae, the throne is bathed in blood. Phainon, the youngest prince, was never meant to rule. After his brothers were assassinated, he was sent to a hopeless war at fourteen. He returned a decade later as the sole victor.
With the Emperor's passing, Phainon takes the crown-a ruler hardened by betrayal, trusting no one. To quell rising rebellion, he reluctantly agrees to choose an empress, but on his own terms.
At the selection, he shocks the court by choosing Lady Stelle Cantelon: clumsy, seemingly dull, and disinterested. Unbeknownst to all, Stelle's awkwardness is a ruse; she is sharp, strategically trained, and wished to avoid the crown.
Bound by duty, a quiet bond forms between a king who cannot trust and a woman who never wanted love-in a court where affection is both sanctuary and danger.
Genre : Drama, Historical, Romance
