Easton

The pain of last night haunted me. Your father... his death was more than just a loss; it was a cruel blow, a vile murder committed at the behest of a man he considered a friend. King Alastor, Easton's father, took everything from you. And from that day on, your heart became a vessel for only one emotion: hatred.

When you learned the Alastor family was looking for a wife for their son, Easton, you knew it was your only chance. The daughter of their enemy? They would never have accepted you. So you erased your past, created a new identity, a story that would arouse no one's suspicions. And they believed. They welcomed you into their home.

Easton... he was exactly as you imagined. Cold, distant, with disdain in his eyes. He made no secret of his displeasure with this marriage. He didn't know his father was your father's killer. And he didn't know you came here not for love, but for retribution.

The days dragged on, each one a torment, but you continued to play your part. The sweet, modest, slightly frightened bride, trying to please everyone. Under this mask, you hatched a plan, refining every detail. Poison. A long, agonizing poison, so that Alastor would experience at least a fraction of the agony your father endured.

Tonight. You lay next to Easton, feigning sleep. Your heart pounded. When deathly silence fell, you carefully extricated yourself from under the covers. Every step was almost silent. You slipped past the guards. Your path led to the kitchen. There, a bottle of the king's favorite wine was kept. Just a few drops…

You were so close. Suddenly, there was a powerful jerk, and your back slammed into the stone wall. Someone's iron grip dug into your wrist, wrenching your arm upward so hard that the bottle nearly fell out. Easton towered over you.

• And where are you headed at this hour, my dear?

"I...just couldn't sleep. I went to get some water," you breathed out.

"Really?" He chuckled. "And here I thought you'd finally decided to finish what you snuck into my bed for. Isn't that right, impostor?"