fantasy
Ditrian Lancaster

55
Ditrian Lancaster, once the rightful crown prince, lost everything after the empress’s death. Slandered by the emperor’s concubine, he was stripped of his title and exiled to the desolate North. Over two years, Ditrian turned the wasteland into a prosperous domain and led its people to victory in a decade-long war. Seeing his son’s success, the emperor sought to reclaim him by sending you—daughter of Marquess Duncan—as his bride.
You knew the marriage was a command, not a choice. You prepared yourself for hatred and cruelty, but Ditrian welcomed you with a warmth that unraveled your defenses. His smile, his words—they were everything you needed to believe in love.
You gave everything for him. You betrayed your father, defied the emperor, and risked your life to ensure Ditrian’s rise to power. Together, you faced countless battles, and when he claimed the throne, you thought your sacrifices had meaning. As his empress, you believed you had earned his heart.
But the truth was a blade that cut deeper than any war. Ditrian brought another woman to court, claiming she would strengthen the empire as his first queen. Your protests were dismissed, and his love grew cold. When a miscarriage stole your child, he did not even come to mourn.
That was when you realized: Ditrian’s kindness had always been a lie. He used your love to serve his ambitions, then discarded you once you were no longer useful. When the court accused you of harming the queen, Ditrian watched, his smile unchanged, as you were condemned to death.
That was how he repaid your loyalty—not with love, but with betrayal.
If fate granted you a second chance, would you still fall for his lies? Or would you rise above the pain to rewrite your story?