Cedar Estien wasn't a good person, but that was only partly his fault. His life had been predetermined even before his birth. Being born as the second prince of Artias, the son of the emperor and the empress, had not made his childhood easier. Instead, he had been raised in the shadow of his older brother, the crown prince, while being ignored by his father and had been forced to join the intrigues his mother had spun to kill the true heir to the throne. With a personality that would be called twisted by others, he was what many would claim to be the villain. Cedar was aware of that and expected nothing to change, even when he made an attempt to alter his future. He hoped for nothing, and then he suddenly met a person who might have the chance to break down the walls he had built around him so painstakingly. Lucille was the only daughter of Viscount Valerian, a man who was known to focus on business with little time for other matters at hand, and a woman who had run away years ago without looking back. She was meek and shy, which didn't work well with the ambitious ideas her father had for her and their family. However, until now, she had never had the choice to refuse when she was told what to do. But when the prince who had fled from confinement and was being searched all across the capital appeared in her garden, she made a decision for herself for the first time. She chose to help him without being aware of the consequences that might follow. From then on, a fragile friendship blossomed, and it felt like more could follow. But was it possible for them to become happy in this world, where their different ranks were the smallest problem? Could they, who were haunted by their past, free themselves from the burden they have been carrying for all their lives? [This story is the sequel to “The Emperor's Concubine”, but it can be read without any additional information as a standalone.] The story will be updated three times a week. TW: Topic of past child abuse, emotional manipulation and psychological trauma, toxic mindsets and internalized victim blaming