The Conquerer's Daughter

A fallen prince goes undercover in the palace that destroyed his kingdom. A princess armors herself in coldness, unaware that love is about to crack her open. And in the space between duty and desire, two people will discover that the most devastating betrayals are the ones that are real.
Lysander has spent twelve years preparing for one moment: to assassinate the king who murdered his family. He enters the palace as Sir Cael, a forgettable guard, ready to complete his mission and vanish. But Aurielle-the conqueror's daughter-is nothing like he expected. She listens like it matters. She sees him when no one else does. And somewhere between her mother's garden and candlelit conversations, his mission becomes impossible to separate from his heart.
Aurielle has built her life on control-the perfect armor for a princess in a court that exploits vulnerability. But Lysander makes her want to be seen. He makes her believe that love might survive across enemy lines. He makes her imagine a future where she reforms her father's cruel empire, where justice and mercy coexist.
Then everything falls apart.