In the country of Eldokia, where power is blood-bound and brutally protected, Princess Elora, the only daughter of the Kleia royal line, was never meant to rule—until her father, who was madly in love with her mother, enacted a legacy that defied centuries of tradition and rewrote the laws to make her heir. That choice earned her enemies—old, bitter, and waiting royal court members. The extended royal family, who had long coveted the crown, harbored deep resentment.Still, Elora’s parents believed they could shield her until she came of age to rule.They were wrong.It all came to naught when Elora's parents perished in a sudden tragedy. Under the guise of protecting the country and preserving tradition, the royal council offered Elora two choices: to marry a man who would bear her name or forfeit the throne. Trapped by duty and betrayal, Elora knew she had a choice to make. She had to find herself a husband. Not a prince. Not a hero. Just someone desperate enough to take her name and say, “I do.”But what could possibly go wrong with such a calculated bargain?He needs money.She needs a crown.It was a marriage borne out of desperation, yet desire has a dangerous way of turning bargains into bonds.