Ethan's POV
The cool night air wrapped around me as I sat on the stone bench near the kingdom's gate, the weight of my thoughts pressing heavily on my shoulders. The stars above offered little comfort, their distant twinkle a stark contrast to the turmoil within me.
"I need to act fast," I murmured to myself, fingers interlaced tightly. "Before it's too late."
Emily's presence in the kingdom was a delicate matter, one that required careful handling. She was more than just a former slave; she was a key to secrets long buried, secrets that could unravel everything if exposed. Her birthmark, the one beneath her left breast, was a symbol I recognized all too well — a mark I won't tell anyone till my mission complete.
"She has to fall for me," I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my ton
