That evening, I moved into the chancellor’s estate.


    Corwin and his wife had been married for three years, their bond deep and unwavering. There were no concubines or servants in his household, and it was clear he had no interest in changing that.


    The king granted a ten-day leave for newlyweds.


    Corwin visited my room only on the first night. He sat in silence for what felt like half a cup of tea’s time before finally speaking.


    “I’ve heard about what happened in the prison,” he began, his voice measured. “The Myles family, descendants of seers, known for your ability to foresee death. Even the Crown Prince has shown interest in keeping you close. Yet today, you chose me. I can only assume it was out of necessity.”


    I met his gaze calmly.


    “I’ve made my choice,” I said. “If you have something to ask, ask directly. If it’s about a prediction, I won’t refuse.”


    He lowered his head slightly, brushing the froth from his tea with the lid of his cup.


    “How will I die?”


    The vision struck me instantly:


    He stood amidst a pool of blood, sword in hand. Before him was a woman, her eyes wild with fury. Suddenly, a blade pierced him from behind, striking through his heart.


    I hesitated, then answered slowly,


    “Do you truly wish to know? Once spoken, a fate often fulfills itself.”


    When he didn’t stop me, I continued,


    “You will die from a blade through the heart.”


    His fingers trembled slightly as he set down his tea.


    “Who?”


    “I don’t know,” I replied, lowering my voice. “I only saw the act—someone struck from behind, and you weren’t prepared. Perhaps you should be cautious of those closest to you.”


    He sat silently for a long time, repeating my words under his breath. “Those closest to me…”


    Then he looked out the window, his hand clenched into a fist.


    “I have no ambitions to seize the throne. All I want is a quiet life with Arianne.”


    For the remaining nine days, he didn’t set foot in my room again, which suited me just fine.


    The political landscape was volatile. The Crown Prince held the strongest claim to the throne, with control over the city’s elite guard. Duke Rowan had the support of the royal family and his stronghold in Yenswick, where his private forces were well-trained.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    General Elias’s father commanded the northern armies—a force of two hundred thousand soldiers stationed at the border for over a decade.


    In comparison, Corwin seemed insignificant. Though he came from a noble lineage—his family a union of two powerful houses—he lacked military power. However, he had passed the royal exams at a young age, rising as a leader among reformist nobles in the court. With his striking appearance and refined manner, he was the picture of a gentleman.


    Yet appearances alone couldn’t make him one of the four contenders.


    Until I met his wife.


    Arianne, the only daughter of the Duke of Braedon, was a woman of quiet elegance. Her father was not only a founder of the kingdom but also a sworn brother to the first king. He had been granted the rare privilege of maintaining his own private army—a force that would pass to Arianne’s son if she had one.


    The first time I saw her, she was seated at a desk, her chin resting on one hand as she wrote. A golden bracelet on her wrist caught the light, accentuating her delicate hands.


    A vision struck me:


    Flames engulfed the estate, the sky glowing an ominous red. She collapsed at the desk, blood staining her gown. With her last strength, she handed me a letter and removed the bracelet from her wrist…


    “Are you the third daughter of the Myles family?” she asked, snapping me back to reality.


    “Yes,” I replied with a polite smile.


    Arianne was warm and composed. She spoke to me as if we were old friends, offering me a large box of pearls from the Eastern Sea as a gift.


    “My husband has always been considerate,” she said lightly. “I hope you’ll forgive his coldness after taking you into our home.”


    “It doesn’t matter,” I replied. “The chancellor clearly values you. I’ve long since given my heart to another, so I take no offense.”


    She paused briefly before laughing.


    “I heard from my husband that you caught the attention of both the Crown Prince and General Elias. He said you chose him only out of necessity. I assumed he was exaggerating.”


    I said nothing, letting the silence speak for itself.


    Noticing her slip, she softened her tone.


    “Miss Myles, it feels too distant to call you that. Please, call me Arianne.”


    In the days that followed, Arianne treated me with increasing kindness, often inviting me to share breakfast with her. Whenever Corwin joined us, I would quietly excuse myself, finding solace in the uneasy harmony of our lives.


    Ten days later, Corwin escorted me to the palace.


    On the way, we crossed paths with the other three couples.


    Spring and Duke Rowan maintained a formal distance, their relationship more akin to allies than lovers.


    Summer and the Crown Prince resembled master and servant.


    Corwin and I appeared cordial but distant. In contrast, Elias and Winter made no attempt to hide their mutual disdain, their rivalry evident in every glance.


    The king greeted us, asking a few trivial questions about our lives before dismissing our husbands. Only the four of us sisters remained.


    “Can you guess,” he asked sharply, “who will be the next ruler?”


    To protect ourselves, we each declared that the man we chose was destined for the throne.


    The king erupted into a fit of coughing, furious at our evasiveness.


    “Get out of my sight!” he bellowed, slumping back into his chair.


    As we turned to leave, his voice rang out once more.


    “Wait. Winter and Autumn—stay behind.”