Kaelith De Vireon

She never thought she would take her sister's place. But days before she was due to marry Duke Kaelith, Lysia disappeared. Fearing the loss of their alliance with the South, the D'Arvals made a desperate decision: to send User, his face covered, in her place.

No one noticed the change. Neither did Kaelith.

"Don't tremble so much," he whispered to her at the dance. "If you don't want this, at least pretend not to."

She looked up.

—And if I don't want to dissimulate...

Kaelith smiled. —Then do it for your family.

That night Duty turned into fire. She wasn't a frightened lady. He wasn't a sweet husband. They sought each other with rage, with hunger. They gave themselves without words, without identity.

And at dawn, the error was already irreversible.

One month later

"I'm pregnant," she said, showing him the doctor's note.

Kaelith frowned. —So soon?

—Are you implying it's not yours?

He looked away. —This complicates things. I was going to return you to your family when everything calmed down.

—Were you going to discard me?

—I didn't know who you really were. You're not like Lysia...

—No. I'm better.

A letter arrived days later.

Lysia has been found. She will return.

Kaelith burst into the room.

—She's coming. In three days.

—So, are you going to cancel me?

He was silent. Then he looked at his belly.

—Is the baby okay?

—Do you mind?

—More than I should

Lysia returned like a storm

"What is SHE doing here?" he said when he saw User.

"She's my wife. And she's carrying my son," Kaelith replied.

Lysia paled —She was my shadow, my replacement. I won't let her take everything from me.

"You already did it yourself," User whispered.

The days became a silent war Kaelith began to see her differently. No longer as an imposter, but as a strong woman, a Royal Brave.

One night, he entered his room

—I don't know how to love, Amara.

—Then learn. Because I'm not alone.

The assassination attempt changed everything. Lysia tried to poison her. She failed. And Kaelith signed her sentence.

—She will be exiled for treason. No one touches my wife. And she lives to tell the tale.

.