Elian, a beggar with nothing to lose, died tragically, only to awaken in the body of the despised bastard son of a powerful Grand Duke in the Arcanoria Empire. His second chance at life quickly turned into a nightmare when the Grand Duke’s household was executed, and Elian was sold into servitude as a courtesan. In this cruel new existence, Elian crossed paths with Izan, the enigmatic crown prince who harbored dark secrets of his own. As they grew closer, a forbidden love began to blossom, one that could upend the delicate balance of power in the empire and destroy them both. Torn between survival, betrayal and desire, Elian and Izan faced impossible choices. Could they defy the forces threatening to tear them apart, or would the empire crush their love before it even had a chance to begin? --- Warning: This book contains mature themes. Join my Discord server: https://discord.gg/NJJKETf4
The Empress stood before her grand mirror, the glow of candlelight flickering across the room, casting shadows over her regal features. Her servants worked with quiet efficiency, carefully unpinning her elaborate hairstyle, loosening the fabric of her gown as she prepared for bed. It had been a long day at court, filled with tedious matters of state, but finally, she could rest.
That peace was shattered when the doors to her chamber burst open with a loud *bang*. Lucian, her son, rushed inside, his eyes wide with excitement, his breath quick from running.
"Mother, you're not going to believe..." He stopped mid-sentence, his voice trailing off as he realized what he had just interrupted. The Empress's eyes flashed dangerously as she turned toward him, her jaw clenched in anger.