Synopsis

“Everyday,Ipray.Thatthislovewilldie.ThatImayloveyouonlyuntiltoday,Andtomorrow,thislovewillbenomore.”Bornofanillicitaffair,theill-fatedImperialPrincessTaliaRoemGwirtagrowsupwarpedinaworldthatdeniesher.Withindifferentparents,hostilehalf-siblings,andservantswhotreatherwithcontempt,shesurvivesbybaringherthornstoanyonewhodaresapproach.Yetbeforeoneman,evenTalia’sdefencescrumble—ThatmanisVarkasLaedgoSiorcan,thenobleheiroftheEast.AsthevassaloftheImperialHouseandsuccessortoagrandducalline,hewasforcedintoperfectionfrombirth.Raisedundertrainingthatborderedonab*se,hisemotionsweredulled,leavinghimamanwhoexistssolelyforfamilyhonourandduty.TofulfilapromisemadetothelateEmpress,hebecomesbetrothedtoTalia’selderhalf-sister,Aila.Shatteredbydespair,Taliaslowlyfallsapart.Butthen—Herlove,destinedonlyfordeath,beginstofaceanunexpectedturningpoint…