In the mist shrouded realm of Aethelgard, Evelina was known for two things,her unyielding defiance and a beauty that felt misplaced in her humble life. But fate is a cruel navigator. Torn from her home and dragged across the churning, salt stained seas, Evelina is forced to trade her freedom for a chance to prove her worth in a world far more dangerous than the one she left behind.
She finds herself a captive of the Courtyard of the Lord of the Night a place where the moon never sets, and the walls breathe with the weight of ancient secrets. In this court, where morality is a ghost and competence is the only currency. Evelina must navigate a labyrinth of Venomous Politics ,Cold Ambition, and Hidden Loopholes.
Amidst the lethal distractions of the nobility, Evelina's focus narrows on Kaelen. He is the anchor of the courtyard's power, a man as cold as the midnight air and twice as sharp. To catch his eye is to invite the scrutiny of a god to seek his favor is to play a game where the prize is dignity and the penalty is erasure.
Evelina stands at a crossroads. She can either sharpen her defiance into a weapon or let the court's treachery break her spirit. As the lines between survival and seduction blur, one question remains: Will she rise to command the shadows, or will her name become just another cautionary tale whispered within the cold stone walls?
AUTHORS NOTE
Welcome to the world of Aethelgard and the shadowed halls of the Lord of the Night. This story was born from the idea that true beauty lies not in a face, but in the defiance of a spirit that refuses to be broken. As you follow Evelina from her humble shores into a sea of betrayal and high stakes politics, I hope you feel the heat of her fire in a cold world. Whether she is navigating the dangerous gaze of Kaelen or the lethal loopholes of the courtyard, her journey is a testament to those who must fight for their dignity when everything else has been stripped away. Thank you for your undivided attention.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my family and to my lovely readers.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE The unmaking of evelina
CHAPTER TWO The Art of the unbroken door
CHAPTER THREE The Price of a dance
CHAPTER FOUR The annex
CHAPTER FIVE The encounter
CHAPTER SIX The great pink hall
CHAPTER SEVEN The dinner
CHAPTER EIGHT The defiance of a favourite
CHAPTER NINE The Walk of thorns
CHAPTER TEN A Fierce decision
CHAPTER ELEVEN Faded memories
CHAPTER TWELVE The weight of gold and grace
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Her return
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Spines and shadows
CHAPTER FIFTEEN A little misunderstanding
CHAPTER SIXTEEN The hot tub
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The interrogation
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The golden Temptation
CHAPTER NINETEEN The Duel of Desires.
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX