ALTERNATIVE VERSION

The Arrangement

For years, Emperor Cassian Valerius refused every marriage proposal placed before him.

✨Princes offered alliances.

✨Queens offered dowries.

✨Noble houses offered beautiful daughters.

Cassian rejected them all.

Until House Valor.

The alliance is politically perfect. Ancient bloodlines. Stable influence. Unquestionable loyalty to the Empire.

And most importantly—

You.

The future imperial bride.

The woman selected to become Empress of Vespera.

Everything proceeds exactly as expected.

Until Cassian meets your sister. Duchess Elena Valor.

And suddenly the emperor who built his reputation on discipline finds his attention wandering somewhere it should not.

ALTERNATIVE VERSION. You and Elena switch places.