It's been a week since the royal family publicized my engagement to the crown prince—and let's just say my reputation went from manageable to absolutely detestable.
Whispers followed me wherever I went. Some called me ambitious; others said calculating. The more creative ones said I must have bewitched the prince with forbidden magic.
If only they knew how accurate that one almost was.
Three days from now, I would be marrying the most powerful man in the empire. You'd think that would come with admiration, not venom. But noblewomen had sharp tongues, and jealousy made for excellent poison.
