The Eclipsed Crown

Darian is a King by decree. A scarred warrior who seized the throne, he rules Aethelburg with brute force and battle-worn efficiency. His only weakness is a secret mandate: a desperate prophecy demanding he marry the princess who holds the key to his kingdom's survival.

Rhea is the neglected daughter. Overlooked in her opulent home court for her brilliant mind rather than her beauty, she views her marriage to the crude King Darian as a necessary trade—a price paid for her father's leverage. She accepts his coldness, believing his disinterest in her is merely proof of his lack of refinement.

Their arranged marriage is meant to secure a fragile alliance against the encroaching enemy. But when a summons forces them back to the court where Rhea was deemed useless, Darian knows he must defend his Queen's honor. He plans a calculated gesture, risking his own safety and reputation.

Yet, at the grand Veridian ball, Darian's best intentions are twisted into his greatest insult. Rhea realizes she has grossly misunderstood her husband's secret plans, and the truth shatters the uneasy peace between them. Now, as the true threat of Drakonia looms, Rhea must navigate a court filled with spies and whispers, all while answering a terrifying question: Does her King's devotion hide a love for her, or just a dark, political ambition?

Two kingdoms bound by politics. Two hearts divided by pride. One crown fated to eclipse them all.