She was never meant to inherit the Roman empire. She just turned out to be the only one who deserved it. From the outside, the Romans look untouchable, old money, older secrets, a family name that opens every door in the city. But Lily was never really one of them. Orphaned young and taken in out of obligation more than love, she grew up watching the Roman children treat privilege like a birthright, while she quietly earned her place doing the work none of them wanted to do. She never asked to be loved. She just made herself impossible to replace. So when the family shocks everyone and names her heir, it isn't a celebration, it's a declaration of war. The empire is hers, but only if she's married within six months. Fail, and everything falls into the hands of Martel, the eldest son whose charm hides a hunger for revenge that could burn the whole company down. Lily has never had time for love. She's only ever had time to survive. But as the clock runs out and the threats against her get closer and more personal, she's left with one impossible choice: gamble her heart on a marriage that was never supposed to mean anything, or let go of everything she fought her whole life to build. Six months. One marriage. An empire hanging in the balance.