Chapter 1

The sun dipped low, casting golden hues across the modest cottage Aliana called home. She sat on the porch, watching her daughter, Penny, chase butterflies in the meadow. Her little girl was the only bright spot in a life that had been overshadowed by heartbreak.

It had been eight years since that fateful summer. Aliana had been young, carefree, and in love with a charming stranger who swept into her life like a storm. He spoke of dreams and adventure, and for a while, she believed in them. She never imagined he’d leave without a word, much less that he was the king.

When she discovered the truth, the betrayal cut deeper than she thought possible. She had tried to move on, to focus on raising Liana. But sometimes, on quiet nights, she’d wonder if he ever thought of her—of them.

One afternoon, as Aliana prepared dinner, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She wiped her hands on her apron and opened it to find Master Gilles, the royal chef, standing there with a wide grin.

“Good evening, Aliana,” he said, holding out a gilded envelope. “I’ve come with an invitation to the Winter Solstice Ball. The king himself has decreed that all in the kingdom are welcome.”

Aliana blinked, momentarily stunned. A royal ball? She hadn’t set foot near the castle since… him.

“I don’t think it’s my kind of affair,” she said cautiously, glancing at Liana, who peeked out from behind her skirts.

“Nonsense,” Gilles said with a wave of his hand. “You’ll come, won’t you, little miss?” He knelt, offering Liana a conspiratorial smile. “The castle is like a fairy tale—just wait till you see the chandeliers!”

Penny’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Can we go, Mama? Please?”

Aliana hesitated, but the hopeful look in her daughter’s eyes melted her resolve. “All right,” she said softly. “We’ll go.”

**~~°°~~°**

The ballroom sparkled with opulence, the grand chandeliers casting a golden glow over the sea of elegant guests. Laughter and music filled the air, but Aliana felt out of place, a shadow among the dazzling nobility.

Nearby, Penny was happily indulging herself at the dessert table, her cheeks puffed with cakes and sweets. Aliana had warned her, " you'll upset your stomach if you eat too much, sweetheart ," but Penny had simply giggled, her blue eyes alight with mischief, and darted off to grab another tart.

Aliana sighed, tugging at the fabric of her dress—a light red gown with fake gold embellishments, chosen specifically to avoid attention. She didn’t belong here, not anymore. But she was wrong to think she could go unnoticed.

“Aliana?”

The voice was sharp, unmistakable, and entirely unwelcome. She turned slowly, her heart sinking as she came face-to-face with her sister, Queen Leyora.

The queen stood tall and imposing, her brown-red hair styled perfectly to frame her hazel eyes. They were the only feature the sisters shared, but where Aliana’s gaze held warmth, Leyora’s was cold and calculating.

“Let me guess—you’re here to beg for money?” Leyora’s tone was mocking, her painted lips curling into a smirk.

Aliana clenched her fists, forcing herself to remain calm. “No, Your Majesty,” she replied, her voice steady but laced with quiet defiance. “Some of us don’t base every decision on wealth.” She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, though it took every ounce of restraint.

The words stung more than they should have, stirring memories Aliana had worked hard to bury. She and Leyora were daughters of the noble Lefra family—once proud, now tainted by betrayal. Aliana had been their eldest, expected to secure the family’s fortune through marriage. But everything had unraveled the moment her pregnancy was discovered.

The Lefras had been ready to sell her to the king, unaware that the man she was in love with—the man who had promised her the world—was the king himself. When her condition came to light, the family turned on her, disowning her and arranging instead for Leyora to take her place.

Leyora hadn’t hesitated to accept, eager for the crown and the power it would bring. But for Aliana, the betrayal had cut deeper than any wound. Not only had her family abandoned her, but the man she loved—the father of her child—had done nothing to stop it. He hadn’t fought for her, for them. That, more than anything, was what had shattered her heart.

“I can’t believe you’re still bitter,” Leyora said, her voice pulling Aliana back to the present. “It’s been eight years, sister. You should thank me, really. I gave you the freedom you always claimed to want.”

Aliana stared at her, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “Freedom? Is that what you call being cast out and left to fend for myself with a child to raise alone?” Her voice was quiet, but the words carried weight.

Leyora shrugged, feigning indifference, but her eyes flickered with something unspoken. Before either of them could say more, a familiar figure entered the room, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Aliana’s breath caught. It was him. The king. Her daughter’s father.

She turned away quickly, her heart pounding. She couldn’t face him—not here, not now. But fate had a cruel sense of humor.

Across the room, Penny—her mouth still full of cake—had wandered too close to the king, bumping into him with all the grace of a seven-year-old.

“I’m so sorry, mister!” Penny chirped, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

The king crouched to her level, a warm smile on his face as he steadied her. “No harm done, little one. What’s your name?”

“Penny!” she said proudly, beaming at him. “What’s yours?”

The king chuckled. “You can call me… James.”

Aliana froze, watching the scene unfold with a mix of panic and disbelief. Neither Penny nor the king had any idea who the other was. This was bad really bad.

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