Venus was raised to believe that pain is weakness and tears are for the fragile. Even after her father’s death on the battlefield, she remained cold-hearted, mocking her grieving mother instead of mourning beside her.But when Emperor Ceaser chooses her mother, Helene, as a royal concubine to honour her late father, Venus is thrust into the dangerous world of the imperial palace. Surrounded by jealous rivals and hidden enemies, her beauty, intelligence, and fearless nature soon capture the emperor’s attention and his favour.As whispers of her becoming the emperor’s heiress spread through the palace, Venus is forced into the Royal Academy, where she masters sword fighting, politics, archery, poetry, and more. But in a palace where betrayal hides behind every smile, Venus must outsmart those who wish to destroy her before love and ambition become her greatest weakness.