Chapter 1
Brynn's POV
The alliance between the Human Empire and the Wolf Empire has stood for centuries. The treaty requires the Human Empire to send a princess to the Wolf Empire every so often, to become the Wolf King's mate and strengthen the bond between our kingdoms. Now, it's time to honor that pact again.
Father is old now, ready to step down. My sister and I have to choose.
In my past life, Adelaide chose the throne. She thought power meant she could do whatever she wanted. Within three years, the Human Empire crumbled in her hands. At home, she bled the people dry, filling her own coffers while they starved. Abroad, her arrogance drove away our allies. The Dwarven Empire, the Serpent Empire, they all cut ties. In the end, the surrounding kingdoms banded together and attacked. The Human Empire fell in the war. Our parents died by enemy blades, and Adelaide had to flee.
And me? I went to the Wolf Empire, just like the treaty said.
On the surface, I was the Wolf Queen, worshipped by every wolf, living in the grand Wolf Court, attending state banquets. In reality, I was his prisoner. Forced to run as prey in the hunting ritual, slapped to the ground in front of the council, shoved forward as a hostage when conflicts arose.
At one banquet, Adelaide appeared in front of me, gripping a dagger, madness burning in her eyes. "This is your fault! If you hadn't been so useless in the Wolf Empire, we wouldn't have lost everything!"
The blade sank into my chest. I collapsed in a pool of blood.
When I open my eyes again, I'm back in the throne room with Father watching us.
Adelaide barely hesitates before speaking up. "I'll go to the Wolf Empire. Let Brynn take the throne."
I smile.
Foolish Adelaide. She has no idea that beneath the Queen's crown lies nothing but chains and blood.
"Going to the Wolf Empire is the right choice!" Adelaide's voice echoes through the hall. "The Wolf Empire controls the most fertile grasslands and forests in the North! Brynn's better suited for all the boring paperwork anyway. She's always loved burying herself in those dusty scrolls. Let her deal with all that tedious nonsense!"
Greed gleams in her eyes. Just last month, she was swearing to the noble ladies at some party that she'd claim the throne on her own merit. Now she can't drop her dignity fast enough.
The Prime Minister frowns. "Wolves are difficult to tame by nature, and given the current Wolf King, Asher Nightshade's attitude toward humans... If you go there unprepared, Your Highness, you'll be in grave danger. Plenty of princesses sent for marriage alliances suffered terribly in the Wolf Empire."
Adelaide waves him off. "Those princesses suffered because they were weak and pathetic. All they did was cry and cling to others, so of course the wolves trampled them. An intelligent, noble woman knows how to charm and manipulate those beasts until they bow at her feet."
She glances at me with contempt. "Losers always blame their circumstances when really, they're just failures."
I almost laugh out loud.
She actually thinks I failed in my past life because I "wasn't smart enough"?
Ridiculous. Asher isn't someone you can charm into submission. His ambition has twisted into something sick.
Say the wrong thing at a meeting? He'll slap you in front of the elders. Try to protect your homeland's interests? He'll lock you in your chambers and force you to sign treaties handing over three border cities to the Wolf Empire. Think you're his mate? No. You're his leverage against the Human Empire, someone he can throw to the wolves whenever there's a conflict.
That's not a marriage. That's a cage.
But I won't tell her. Let her find out for herself in the wolf's den.
"Since you've made your choice." Father stays silent for a long moment before sighing and nodding. "The Human Empire has weakened over the years. The surrounding kingdoms circle us like vultures. We're in no position to renegotiate the treaty with the Wolf Empire. All we can do is pray they keep their word..."
Adelaide cuts him off. "Father, you're overthinking this! I'll be the most successful Wolf Queen in history. I won't just maintain the alliance, I'll secure even more benefits for the Human Empire! When Brynn's drowning in administrative work and dealing with scheming nobles, just send a messenger to ask for my help. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll save you a seat at one of the Wolf Empire's grand feasts. Let you see what real power and glory look like."
I don't even look up. "I'll be waiting."
She'll experience the "glory" of kneeling before the council soon enough. She'll learn what "power" feels like when she's hunted like prey under the full moon.
And me? I'll probably be busy figuring out how to distribute grain reserves, keep the regional lords happy, and rebuild our foreign relations. All those "boring, tedious" things she sneers at are exactly where the real power lies.
What a shame.
To celebrate the renewed alliance between the Human Empire and the Wolf Empire, the palace hosts a grand international celebration. Envoys from the Dwarven Empire, the Serpent Empire, even observers from the distant Elven Kingdom all attend.
Adelaide sweeps through the crowd in an elaborate gown, arm in arm with the tall, imposing Wolf King Asher. She radiates "I won" energy so intensely I'm surprised she doesn't burst.
They approach me. Adelaide raises her crystal goblet. "Brynn, meet your future brother-in-law. So, how's ruling treating you? I heard you've been busy dealing with rebellious nobles, fending off beast raids on the border, managing an empty treasury... Why exhaust yourself like this? Wouldn't it be smarter to lean on a powerful empire? Too bad not everyone has what it takes to become Wolf Queen."
Asher nods politely. But when Adelaide speaks, I catch his brow furrowing slightly.
The irritation has already started. A Queen is supposed to be calm and graceful. But Adelaide right now, with her loud boasting and sharp tone, is the complete opposite of what a Queen should be.
Adelaide doesn't notice the warning signs at all. She tosses out a few more jabs before turning away with Asher on her arm.
I lift my own glass and begin talking to the various empire representatives. The same people Adelaide's arrogance offended in my past life, the ones who banded together to destroy the Human Empire. This time, I won't make the same mistakes.
Just as I'm quietly discussing a trade agreement with the Dwarven ambassador, the entire hall falls silent.
Everyone stops talking, their gazes turning toward the entrance.
