The Virean Empire once stood proud—born in conquest, now crumbling in greed. Power slipped from emperors to noble houses, and cruelty was codified.

In that cruelty grew Serelith Veylor. Her mother, dead. Her father, ruthless. Her stepmother, venomous—only her grandfather’s love kept her from shattering. But when even he was gone, she was left with nothing but scars and steel.

Trained as a knight, Serelith fought to carve her own place in a world that wished her erased. All she longed for was peace.

Instead, her father sold her into marriage with the empire’s most feared man—Alaric Dareth Valemont, the Grand Duke.

Her story begins not with choice, but with chains.

Whether they bind her—or break—remains to be seen.