Princess Althea of Lysandra is more than just a pretty face in a palace-she's a fiery spirit trapped in a political game she despises. When a diplomatic blunder threatens her kingdom with war, Althea becomes a bargaining chip, sent to marry a foreign prince she's never met. Her escort? The icy Sir Catria, a knight as disciplined as she is detached, bound by duty to deliver Althea safely to her fate. But as dangers mount-from assassins' blades to treacherous terrains-Althea and Catria find themselves reluctantly bonding in the shadows of looming threats. Each challenging day peels back layers they never intended to share, revealing hidden vulnerabilities and a stirring connection that blurs the lines of their rigid roles. With every whispered secret and shared hardship, the journey transforms their animosity into a forbidden tension. As they edge closer to a court swarming with enemies and a marriage that feels more like a death sentence, the stakes rise. Will they cling to their duties, or dare to defy their destinies for a chance at something more?