Chapter 1
I hid my identity and spent five years married to Caelen—a man who claimed to be nothing but a wandering knight.
The day I found out I was pregnant, he showed up with his Black Obsidian Dragon Riders.
Turns out he commanded the Empire's most elite aerial legion.
Oh, and he was getting married. Just not to me.
"I'm marrying Victoria Ashford. The Cabinet Chancellor's daughter. We're equals in power and status, and... we've already slept together."
He promised to set me up with an estate, swore the child and I would never want for anything.
"So I'm supposed to hide in the shadows forever?"
Caelen wouldn't meet my eyes. "She'll make the perfect Commander's wife. Stay out of her way, and I can give you everything—except my name."
My throat burned. Five years of love, and this was all I meant to him.
What he didn't know: I'm Princess Seraphina Aurelian, Crown Princess of the Empire.
And there's no way in hell I'm becoming his dirty little secret.
Seraphina's POV
"What the hell is WRONG with you, Sera?"
Caelen's voice cut like a blade, as if I were some hysterical woman instead of his wife carrying his child.
When I refused to become his mistress, he brought fifty Obsidian Dragon Knights.
I'd hidden my identity as the Imperial Grand Princess and spent five years with Caelen, who claimed to be just an ordinary knight.
Yesterday I discovered I was pregnant. Today he informed me—he was actually the Empire's Chief War God Commander, and in one month he'd be marrying Victoria, the Cabinet Grand Chancellor's daughter.
Because she could give him power. Give him status. A ladder to greater heights.
And me? Just a secret to be hidden away.
"I've prepared the manor. You and the child won't lack anything." His tone dripped with impatience. "What else do you WANT?"
"I want you to honor your VOWS!" My voice trembled. "You swore to love me forever—"
"I DO love you," he cut me off, eyes like ice. "But reality isn't a fairy tale, Sera. Victoria's father controls the Senate. She can give me things you CAN'T."
"So I just shut up and watch you marry her?"
"You're nobody—no family, no title, no political value." Caelen looked away. "What I'm offering is already my limit."
I stared at this stranger, my chest ripping open.
Five years ago, sick of palace politics, I left after a fight with my father. Out here, I met Caelen—a knight tired of fighting, wanting a quiet life. We built a house together, planted roses and lavender. Every starlit night we swore forever.
All BULLSHIT.
"Caelen, I'm carrying YOUR child." My voice nearly broke. "Don't marry her. PLEASE—"
"I already slept with Victoria." He shifted uncomfortably. "I owe her an explanation."
"Then what do you owe ME?" Tears streamed down my face. "What do you owe OUR child?"
He reached out. I smacked his hand away.
His expression turned dark. He grabbed my chin, hard. "Behave, Sera."
I glared at him.
He sighed, tone softening: "I just need a wife to solidify my position. Doesn't mean I'm abandoning you."
"What does that MEAN?"
"The manor is large. You'll be comfortable." His thumb rubbed my jaw. "I'll compensate you—jewelry, clothes, whatever—"
"I don't want ANY of it!" I stepped back. "I won't be your secret mistress. I won't let our child live in shadows!"
Caelen's patience snapped. His face went hard. "I'm being generous. Plenty of women would BEG for this."
"Then GO find them! I'm not going ANYWHERE!"
"ENOUGH!" He swept his hand violently. "You're carrying my child. You WILL obey. Seize her!"
The black dragon opened its massive jaws.
Purple dragonfire erupted.
"NO—!" I screamed, lunging toward the cabin, but two Dragon Knights clamped down on me.
Fire consumed everything. The cabin we'd built, the garden we'd cultivated, the rose arbor, the terrace where we'd embraced—all turned to ash.
"STOP! That was our HOME!"
Caelen watched expressionlessly: "That was a mistake. Now it's corrected. I'll take you to our REAL home."
"Real home?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Victoria won't lose her MIND?"
"She can NEVER know you exist." His calm was terrifying. "Before the wedding, you'll be hidden. Once I've consolidated power, I'll give you and the child proper arrangements."
He pulled me into his arms, letting me pound his chest.
"Don't be scared," he whispered, like talking to a child. "When the time is right, I'll talk to Victoria. The child can grow up with dignity. Trust me. Everything will be like before."
Before?
That "before" burned to ash with the cabin.
He destroyed our home and expected reconciliation?
"Take her away." Caelen released me, voice cold again. "Lock her in the manor. Without my orders, NO ONE lets her out."
The Dragon Knights shoved me into a sealed carriage. Through a crack in the window, I watched Caelen leave, black cloak billowing.
He didn't look back once.
The manor sat on the city's outskirts—grand, magnificent, cold as a tomb.
They locked me in the master bedroom. Iron bars on the windows. A gilded cage.
I didn't touch the meals. Second day, nothing. Third day, my head began throbbing—something that'd plagued me since childhood, flaring when I was distressed or weak.
When the pain nearly made me pass out, voices drifted from outside.
"Did you hear? To please Miss Victoria Ashford, the Commander went ALL out."
"What do you mean?"
"He dedicated ALL the credit from conquering the Eastern dragon clans, just to get the Starfall Necklace! The legendary one that belonged to Princess Seraphina!"
