THE ENEMY'S BRIDE

The life of a royal was never easy. We lived in a world divided into two kinds of people-Humans... and Monsters. But monsters were not what stories made them out to be. They were not creatures of the dark. They were people. People born... different. More intelligent. More beautiful. Faster. Stronger. Untouchable. They stood above ordinary humans in every way. And in the powerful kingdom of Valerith... there existed a royal who didn't belong to either side. Heliana. She was not like the others. She was wild, Carefree, and Shameless. Everything a princess was never supposed to be. She wore men's clothing more often than gowns, walking the palace halls with an ease that made nobles whisper and ministers sigh in disapproval. But no one could deny it- She was breathtaking. Not just beautiful... but striking. Heliana possessed a rare duality.The softness of a woman... and the sharp, effortless charm of a man. Handsome and Beautiful. Both. Her mysterious eyes-flecked with gold and emerald-held a depth no one could fully understand. With her jet-black wig slicked back and her masculine attire, she often passed as a noble young lord. And strangely... No one minded. Because Heliana was kind. Quiet, but warm. Distant, but sincere. Boys admired her. Girls adored her. And soon, the entire kingdom gave her a name- The Heartthrob of the Nation. But admiration alone was not what made her dangerous. Heliana was gifted. Not just in beauty... but in mind and strength. Her intelligence rivaled the greatest scholars. Her political instincts surpassed seasoned ministers. Her skills in hunting, archery, and horse riding put even royal knights to shame. She was everything a ruler should be. And that... Was exactly why her father hated her. To the people, she was the king's pride. But behind closed doors- She was his greatest threat. Because Heliana believed in something forbidden. A Queendom. A world where a woman could rule. But the king did not share that belief. Instead, he raised his chosen successor- Alaric. Not her brother... but her stepbrother. A son born from a concubine. Yet he was given everything that rightfully belonged to her. Simply because he was a man. It burned. Not just her pride- But her heart. Still... Heliana endured. And as the kingdom of Valerith continued to grow and prosper, she only became more brilliant. More capable. More loved. When an economic crisis threatened to cripple the nation, it was Heliana who stepped forward. With sharp calculations and fearless decisions, she resolved the inflation crisis that even the royal council failed to control. In a matter of weeks- She saved the kingdom. The people began to see her. The ministers began to respect her. And slowly... Power began to shift. But while the kingdom celebrated her... The king grew restless. Because the brighter Heliana shone- The more she became a thorn in his flesh. And deep down... He had already begun to wonder- If the only way to protect his throne... Was to get rid of her. It wasn't a mistake. He was sacrificing his own blood-on the altar of pride and ambition." ---- King Aldric Valerith had tried countless times to force Heliana into marriage. Because he knew- Marriage was the only thing that could limit her. In Valerith, women were raised to be obedient, dependent and loyal.They did not rule,they did not decide and they did not matter. But Heliana... was never one of them. A faint, bitter smile touched her lips. How laughable. A king so afraid of his own daughter... That he would rather lose her- Than risk being overshadowed by her. "Heliana," Alaric began, a smug grin stretching across his face, "you've grown into a beautiful young lady. I think it's time you got married." Heliana's fingers curled into a tight fist, but her expression remained calm. "Oh?" she said lightly. "I heard Princess Diana of Austra rejected you." She tilted her head, smiling mockingly. "Maybe you should focus on learning how to win a woman. I could give you tips... brother." Alaric's face darkened instantly. "Look at you talking," he snapped. "At this rate, you'll be as old as Father before you find a suitor." Heliana let out a soft laugh, clearly amused. "Men and women... princes and princesses... all at my beck and call." She stepped closer, her voice dropping slightly. "But you-baby brother... why so naïve?" Alaric's jaw tightened, ready to fire back- But a sharp clearing of a throat cut through the tension. King Aldric. "I think Alaric is right," he said coldly. "You are not getting any younger, Heliana." Heliana laughed. Not out of humor- But expectation. Of course. What else had she expected from him? "Royal Father," she said smoothly, "think about it. I cannot simply marry anyone." She raised her chin slightly. "I am Princess Heliana Evren Valerith. Beauty, brains, class." Her eyes gleamed. "If I am to marry... that person must be my equal." A pause. "And there is no one like that in the human world." The king's expression hardened. "There are many noble families seeking your hand. This marriage would benefit you... the people of Valerith... and the crown." Heliana rolled her eyes. Benefit. It was always about benefit. "Are you suggesting a political marriage?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. "A loveless one?" She stepped forward, gaze sharp. "Have you forgotten what you lost to a political marriage?" A beat. "Or should I remind you... that it produced me?" Silence. Then- BAM! King Aldric slammed his hand against the table, veins bulging from his forehead. "Do not test me, Heliana Evren Valerith!" his voice thundered. "You will not accuse me." Heliana laughed. Cold, sharp and Unbothered "I would never marry for politics," she said calmly. "I am not a dog that wags its tail for a bone." Her eyes burned with pride. "I am Heliana Evren Valerith-" She stepped closer. "Queen of beauty, Style, Grace and Power." A pause. "And I will never marry beneath me." Both Alaric and the king stared at her in shock. "How dare you-" But Heliana didn't let him finish. She walked up to her father slowly... Leaning in- And whispered something into his ear. Something only he could hear, Something dangerous. And Something true. The color drained from King Aldric's face instantly. For the first time- He looked afraid. Heliana clicked her tongue softly, amused. Then she turned, giving Alaric a playful wink before walking out. ---- The sunlight greeted her as she entered her chambers.Warm, Gentle, Free. She stood by the window, letting the breeze brush against her skin. It wasn't that she didn't feel hurt. She did. But she had grown used to it. Rejection and Coldness. A father who never saw her as his child... only as a threat. Her heart had been broken long ago. Now- There was nothing left to shatter. That was why she never lost. But even Heliana didn't know... That the idea forming in her mind-l The one she found so brilliant- Would soon change her life forever.