TFCP| Chapter 1

Episode 1: The Reason for the Marriage

It seemed like Crown Prince Karsian never meant to kill her from the start. As a sword master, if he wanted to, he could have ended her breath in an instant. Still, Lanael was filled with the fear of death. She could not die like this.

The grip on Lanael’s neck loosened a little. Right then, a big burst of water slammed Karsian against the bedroom wall. He bounced off the wall and, just before hitting it, braced one foot and pushed himself lightly back into the air.

He landed quietly among the spray of water splashing off the wall. He shook the water from his hair and looked back at her, who was still trying to catch her breath on the bed.

As the water flew, every candle in the room went out. The bedroom was left with only darkness, the two of their breathing, and the moonlight.

Ah!

Using the spirit power to throw him had been pure survival instinct. Lanael was terrified she’d be accused of trying to assassinate the Crown Prince. She wanted to kneel quickly and beg for forgiveness. But her body wouldn’t move from the fear pinning her down.

“So you are a spirit user. Where’s your spirit stone?” His voice was low and cold as it echoed through the room. He walked slowly toward the bed.

He scanned Lanael’s body, which showed under the pink silk dress. He noticed the small blue jewel earring clipped to her ear.

“An earring? Hah… Did the Irbeths think I couldn’t tell my fiancée from a fool? Did she attach herself to the Empress side?” He sounded disdainful.

Only someone with a contract to the Spirit King could naturally use spirit power. Otherwise, a spirit stone was needed. Usually it’s a big gem you keep on a necklace or in a pocket, but to fool everyone, she must have used a tiny spirit stone hidden as jewelry.

Karsian looked at the woman’s face again. She looked exactly like Raphiana. The honey-gold curls, the blue, sapphire-like eyes.

But he was a sword master. Everyone’s unique energy was different. He could not possibly mistake the woman he had wanted for years.

For years he had only dreamed of her. Whenever he felt like giving up, he always thought of her. Raphiana was his first love and his dream. Today should have been the day his dream came true. But—

The fake woman barely pushed herself up.

Cough I… I didn’t mean to… I didn’t attack on purpose…

Handprints were already red around her white neck.

“I asked who you are. Did you come to kill me? If you don’t answer properly, I’ll kill you right now.” His red eyes flashed. This marriage hadn’t been easy to arrange. The emperor had never been pleased about marrying into one of the first spirit-wielding houses, the water Irbeth family.

Plus, Lady Raphiana Nahar Irbeth was the Water Spirit King Nahar’s contracted one. Since the crown prince had no spirit power, there was a chance the fiery Epert throne, held by his family for centuries, might be taken by the water Irbeths.

Still, the crown prince who had become a sword master was stubborn. He had said if it wasn’t the Irbeth princess, he would never marry and would even give up the throne.

On the other hand, the Duke of Irbeth welcomed the match with open arms. While daughters don’t inherit dukedoms, the chance to have his daughter become Empress was tempting.

So why send someone else instead of the Irbeth princess? Karsian was baffled.

“Raphiana can’t come to the palace right now. So… I came in her place.” Lanael had to steady herself. The red eyes before her were cold. When she had come into the palace as the fake crown princess, she hadn’t expected her true identity would be found out on the very first night.

Her plan had been to help him become emperor, then when he softened toward the fake bride, tell him her situation and ask for help. If that failed, once Erna came of age and the duke’s watchfulness lessened, she thought she could convince Duchess Chloe to help them run away.

She drew a long breath. She was still alive.

There was a chance, she whispered to herself, tightening her resolve.

“Is she sick? Or did she have someone? Did she run away?” A worried look creased his cold face. His voice shook slightly.

“I can’t tell you everything right now. Besides, didn’t you marry because you needed the Irbeth name and spirit power? I can stand in for her.” Lanael tried to sound convincing.

“Who said I married because of the Irbeth name? Do you really think I married for that?” He glared at her with that handsome face. Everyone had been saying that. They said he had chosen this marriage as a political move since he lacked spirit power.

Lanael looked puzzled, not understanding at first what he meant, then she read something in his eyes and gave a short, wry laugh.

“Hah. Do you mean you married because you love Raphiana?” he said.

Silence answered. Lanael couldn’t help twisting the corner of her mouth into a smile.

‘Even that monster of a woman has someone who loves her. How naive,’ she thought.

Lanael calmed herself and figured out her next moves. The sound of her swallowing echoed softly in the quiet room.

If he loved Raphiana, then she could be used as a hostage. That was a good trick Lanael had learned at the Irbeth ducal house.

“So you definitely shouldn’t kill me,” she said.

“Why not? Why should I keep a fake like you alive?” he demanded.

“If you kill me and punish the Irbeths, the marriage is over. There won’t be a place for Raphiana to return to.” Once she’d taken the role of hostage, words came easier. Lanael actually felt like laughing aloud inside.

Ah, this is so easy and thrilling. Grabbing someone and shaking things up.’

“Where is Raphiana now? Tell me why you sent a fake,” she demanded.

Karsian grabbed her shoulder and shook her with a pained expression.

Noticing the hand on her shoulder didn’t hold the same cold killing intent as before, Lanael smiled again—a pretty smile that didn’t fit the situation. The advantage was now in her hands.

“I don’t know much. But believe this one thing: I am on Your Highness’s side. The Irbeths want you to become emperor. If I stay alive as crown princess, Raphiana can come back, right?” she said.

Karsian stared at her with contempt for a long moment. Then he flung the bedroom door open and left. All that remained behind him were anger and confusion.

Lanael toyed with the soft blanket, thinking how to use him. He would be a very useful weapon for her—something that could get her out of this hell.

The training field’s dawn air was cold. Dew slid off the grass. The sunlight glanced off the swinging blades, making them flash.

Karsian had stopped his sword practice and lay on the earthen ground of the training field. The sun was rising. The gray sky, not yet fully bright, was stained with red sunrise.

He’d thought swinging his sword until he was exhausted would clear the fog in his head, but it didn’t help.

The throne, his mother’s revenge, the dream he had longed for and worked for—he wanted to take those things. But the thing he had always wanted most was his first love, Raphiana.

He’d finally thought he’d found her, only to be left empty-handed. His chest felt tight. Six years it had been—a one-sided love no one noticed. Now he was married, and it was not her. He felt the rush of loss and a strange haze of betrayal.

‘Did Irbeth hide his daughter to protect her from dangerous political fights? I heard she wasn’t well—did her illness get worse? Or did she have someone else she loved?’ His fist tightened.

At the engagement, he should have forced a moment to speak with his fiancée. But court rules and the eyes of others had stopped him from even talking to her.

If the girl had revealed she was the one from six years ago, maybe Raphiana wouldn’t have left.

‘Maybe she hasn’t forgotten me either,’ he thought.

Blinded by the rising sun, Karsian closed his eyes. Even with eyes closed, her image returned. Only Raphiana filled his thoughts. No matter why a fake had been sent, he would never let go of Raphiana.

He thought about the fake who looked so much like Raphiana. A woman who had tried to deceive him, who, when discovered, had the nerve to propose a bargain. He was confused about which parts of her story were true and which he could believe.

“If I stay alive as crown princess, Raphiana can come back.” The fake’s words had been oddly convincing after a night of thinking. Karsian remembered that chillingly beautiful smile on her face. To smile in that situation was terrifying. She was nothing like Raphiana.

(Repeated passage)

The training field’s dawn air was cold. Dew slid off the grass. The sunlight glanced off the swinging blades, making them flash.

Karsian had stopped his sword practice and lay on the earthen ground of the training field. The sun was rising. The gray sky, not yet fully bright, was stained with red sunrise.

He’d thought swinging his sword until he was exhausted would clear the fog in his head, but it didn’t help.

The throne, his mother’s revenge, the dream he had longed for and worked for—he wanted to take those things. But the thing he had always wanted most was his first love, Raphiana.

He’d finally thought he’d found her, only to be left empty-handed. His chest felt tight. Six years it had been—a one-sided love no one noticed. Now he was married, and it was not her. He felt the rush of loss and a strange haze of betrayal.

‘Did Irbeth hide his daughter to protect her from dangerous political fights? I heard she wasn’t well—did her illness get worse? Or did she have someone else she loved?’ His fist tightened.

At the engagement, he should have forced a moment to speak with his fiancée. But court rules and the eyes of others had stopped him from even talking to her.

If the girl had revealed she was the one from six years ago, maybe Raphiana wouldn’t have left.

‘Maybe she hasn’t forgotten me either,’ he thought.

Blinded by the rising sun, Karsian closed his eyes. Even with eyes closed, her image returned. Only Raphiana filled his thoughts. No matter why a fake had been sent, he would never let go of Raphiana.

He thought about the fake who looked so much like Raphiana. A woman who had tried to deceive him, who, when discovered, had the nerve to propose a bargain. He was confused about which parts of her story were true and which he could believe.

“If I stay alive as crown princess, Raphiana can come back.” The fake’s words had been oddly convincing after a night of thinking. Karsian remembered that chillingly beautiful smile on her face. To smile in that situation was terrifying. She was nothing like Raphiana.