A marriage proposal. A struggle for the throne. And a future none of them can control.

Lucifela Aydin's life has never been more complicated.

As her friendship with Florence Loer deepens, the two young women come to rely on one another more than ever before. But their newfound happiness proves short-lived when Florence receives a shocking marriage proposal from the Crown Prince himself, placing her future in jeopardy and threatening to pull the friends onto opposing sides of a growing political divide.

Meanwhile, Prince Eozif's curiosity surrounding Lucifela continues to grow. As he investigates the truth behind her sudden transformation, dangerous questions about Estelle Schubert, the fallen Kingdom of Ersha, and the future of the Empire itself begin to surface. Before long, secrets long thought buried threaten to reshape the political landscape of the entire continent.

At the same time, Lucifela begins to realize that Duke Heint has become far more than a mere fiancé in her eyes. Whether appearing at her side when she needs him most, seeking her out before departing for battle, or placing his unwavering trust in her, Zed steadily becomes someone she can no longer imagine using for her own ends.

But as the struggle for imperial succession intensifies, Lucifela finds herself caught between competing ambitions and conflicting loyalties. She must choose between the future she seeks and the people she refuses to sacrifice to reach it.

For every path forward demands a sacrifice.