Five years ago, Margaret was stripped of her title after being framed by one of her father's consort. Sent away to a small village so no one ever sees or hears of her again after the shame she brought to the imperial family, she had to make a new life for herself. She changed her name, pretended to be an orphan, and made her home there. As she worked in a clinic with her mentor, who was more a father to her than hers ever was, she met an ambitious young man who stole her heart and made her yearn for something more than that peaceful life she now had. At least, until her father's order arrived. She was to be wed to a general who not only had the reputation to be ruthless but also was rumored to be one of the worst monsters the empire had ever known. Would she renounce riches for love or would she accept her fate and accomplish her duty as a princess? Alistair, the young general in question, met who he thought to be the love of his life after being wounded in the most important battle of his life and was rewarded for his services with the hand of the most hated woman of the empire. Scorn to the imperial family. Was he really to be treated this way after all he did for his country? Was the emperor ungrateful for his sacrifices?