At eight years old, Liviyan witnessed the brutal murder of her parents, hiding in terror behind a bookshelf. The silence that followed was shattered by the violence she could neither stop nor escape. Once the chaos subsided, she emerged to find her parents lifeless, their home transformed into a scene of horror. Fleeing into the night, Liviyan sought refuge in an alley, eventually collapsing from exhaustion.
For the next decade, Liviyan trained intensely under the guidance of the Pandora guild, mastering the deadly arts of assassination. Her once fragile frame hardened into a formidable weapon, her skills in poisons, blades, and stealth making her one of the guild's most lethal operatives. Despite Pandora's harsh environment, Luxus, the guild leader, took a special interest in her, balancing rigorous training with protective, almost paternal care.
By the end of her training, Liviyan had not only become Pandora's most dangerous asset but also its future. As Luxus's adopted daughter and sole heir, she was expected to lead the guild through increasing internal and external threats. Her rise through Pandora's ranks came with immense power and responsibility, setting the stage for inevitable conflicts and tests of loyalty. The guild, her home, and crucible, now faced new challenges as Liviyan prepared to navigate the treacherous path of leadership.
The Dragon court under the now ancient King Magnus is a dangerous and ruthless place to grow up. A fact Estella has learned in painful detail. It's hard to recover from your father being labeled a traitor to the crown, and executed on the whim of your king. Stripped of titles, position, fortune, even her last name and home.
In spite of her tragic circumstances, Esti does her best to overcome the challenges put in front of her. Adjusting from court life to peasanthood. Life is quiet on a farm, the work is hard. Esti doesn't mind the hard work, a tired body keeps her from having to think too much about everything she has lost. Esti thought the world was finally leveling out under her feet again after two years of learning the hard way how to farm.
Until her mother betrays her, ending the delicate sense of peace Esti had come to know. Her world is shattered once again. Returned to the castle as less than an exile, Esti now has to contend with figuring our her place in the strict hierarchy of the court. No longer noble and generally hated by the other servants and slaves, Esti just wants to find a small hidden life where she can be content.
That is, until one of the King's own bastard many greats grandson takes an interest in her. Adding too many layers of complications for Esti to solve on her own. Needing to rely on friends she knows, friends she makes, and the Royal bastard she didn't want to know, Esti needs to find herself, to save herself.
**Warning**Allllllllllll the content trigger warnings apply. Summer is hot and humid, makes me cranky, sends my mind to dark places sometimes. Read at your own discretion.**Warning**