CHAPTER ONE~

Third Person's POV

Asteria stood by the large bay window in her room, gazing down at the long driveway below. The view of the family estate was usually calm, serene even, but today it was anything but. A line of sleek black cars was parked outside, each one marked with a small but unmistakable crest—an intricate crown encircled by thorns. The Kings had arrived.

Her pulse quickened. The Kings weren't just any visitors. They were rivals—her family's greatest enemy. Every encounter with them was dangerous, their presence a reminder of the precarious balance of power that always seemed one wrong move away from erupting into chaos.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Asteria, you need to get ready," came Alicia's voice from the hallway. "They're downstairs."

Asteria sighed, running a hand through her hair, still tangled from sleep. She knew what awaited her: another gathering where she would have to smile and play her part, all while pretending the weight of her family's criminal dealings didn't suffocate her.

"I'm coming," she muttered, her voice edged with frustration.

Alicia opened the door, stepping inside. Her aunt's face was a mixture of concern and urgency. "Your father expects you to be there, Asteria. The Kings need to see unity. You can't give them any reason to think we're divided."

Asteria's annoyance flared. "Why do I have to be there? It's not like anyone actually cares what I do."

Alicia sighed softly, crossing her arms. "It's not about you. It's about what you represent. Now, please, don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Asteria didn't respond, simply turning away as she finished getting ready. She knew her aunt was right, but that didn't make the situation any easier to stomach. She felt trapped—by her family's expectations, by the presence of the Kings, by the entire world she was born into.

She smoothed out her dress, the fabric cool against her skin, before finally heading downstairs to join the others.

The dining room was tense when Asteria entered, her heart beating a little faster as she took in the scene. The long mahogany table was set with silverware and crystal glasses, reflecting the soft glow of the chandelier above. Her father, the head of the family, sat at the far end, his face as unreadable as ever. The Kings sat opposite him, their sharp suits and sharper eyes cutting through the tension in the room.

But what unsettled her most was the gaze of Zeltros Kings. His eyes were on her from the moment she stepped inside, watching her in a way that made her stomach tighten with an uncomfortable mixture of emotions.

She swallowed hard, trying not to let his attention rattle her. She could feel it burning into her as she walked to her seat.

Sorry for being late," she mumbled as she sat down.

Her father didn't acknowledge her apology. Instead, he cleared his throat, commanding the room's attention. The conversation stilled as all eyes turned to him.

"I have an announcement to make," he began, his voice steady and authoritative. "It's time we solidify the bond between our family and the Kings. After much consideration, I'm pleased to announce that Lillian will marry Zeltros, forming a new alliance between our families."

Asteria's heart froze. She knew it was coming, but hearing the words aloud felt like a knife twisting in her chest. Her eyes flicked toward Zeltros, whose gaze hadn't left her once during the entire announcement. She couldn't read his expression, but she felt the weight of his stare.

Before she could react, a voice interrupted her thoughts—Lillian's voice, sweet and innocent, cutting through the room like a dagger dipped in honey.

"Asteria," Lillian said, her tone light but with a hidden edge. "You haven't congratulated me yet. Are you upset?" She gave a saccharine smile, her eyes wide with false concern. "It's okay if you are. It's all a big surprise, after all."

Asteria stiffened, feeling the eyes of the room land on her once again. The question was a trap, a carefully disguised attempt to embarrass her. Lillian always knew how to make her look foolish, even when pretending to be kind.

"I'm not upset," Asteria managed, her voice flat. "I'm happy for you both."

Her words felt hollow, as though they didn't belong to her. She wanted to scream, to leave the room, but instead, she forced herself to sit still, her hands hidden under the table where they clenched into fists. She could feel the sharp sting of her nails digging into her palms.

Lillian, of course, wasn't done.

"Then why didn't you say anything sooner?" she asked, tilting her head with mock confusion. "You're usually so thoughtful, sister."

Asteria could feel her anger rising, her frustration burning beneath the surface, but she forced herself to stay calm. She refused to let Lillian win, not like this.

"Congratulations, Lillian. Zeltros," she said, her voice quieter now. "I wish you both the best."

Her father gave a satisfied nod, the tension in the room seeming to ease as he moved on to discuss the finer points of the engagement. But Asteria barely heard any of it. The weight of the announcement, of Zeltros' eyes on her, of Lillian's cruel little game—it was all too much.

She glanced across the table and caught Alicia's eyes. Her aunt offered a sympathetic smile, but it did little to ease the ache that had taken root deep inside her.

As the conversation moved on around her, Asteria felt more alone than ever, despite the crowded room. The noise, the laughter, the discussions of business and alliances—they all faded into the background.

Inside, she was lost, trapped in a world where she didn't belong. And now, with Zeltros tied to her sister, that feeling only grew stronger.

The breakfast had ended, but Asteria remained in her seat, watching as the others slowly filtered out of the room. Her father left first, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hall. Her brothers followed, deep in discussion about the business arrangements the marriage would bring. The Kings stayed behind to negotiate further details, but Asteria didn't care to listen.

It wasn't until Zeltros stood up that she felt her heart quicken again. His movements were slow, deliberate, as though he had all the time in the world. He paused for a moment, glancing in her direction, and for a split second, their eyes met.

But just as quickly, he looked away, leaving her alone at the table as the door closed behind him. Asteria let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

Alicia, the last to leave, touched her shoulder gently.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly.

Asteria gave a small, bitter smile. "What do you think?"

Alicia sighed, her face filled with concern. "I know this is hard. But you can't let it get to you. Lillian—"

"I don't care about Lillian," Asteria interrupted, her voice tight. "I don't care about any of this."

She didn't wait for a response before standing up, walking out of the dining room and heading back to her room, her heart heavy with a mix of anger, frustration, and something she couldn't quite name.

She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.

Many might call her dramatic yet when her childhood crush was engaged to her stepsister, that feeling was quite painful. Only the one who went through that could understand.

Sighing, she returned back to her room, where she felt the most safe.

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