Elianna and Chris continue their investigation into her family history, only for treachery to strike at a book market!

The spectacle with Irene and her father concludes with the people in support of Elianna as the prince’s betrothed. Wanting to spend some private time with his fiancée, Prince Chris plans a special date at a traveling book market. Eli cannot contain her excitement, surrounded by books and with the man she loves. But soon their romantic outing is interrupted by an accusation and a child—a child claiming that Prince Chris is his father!

When book-loving Lady Elianna spots Prince Christopher—her betrothed in name only—consorting with another noble lady, she realizes the recent rumors must be true. The prince has someone he truly loves, which means the annulment of their engagement is both inevitable and fast-approaching. What she doesn’t realize is that this is merely a surface ripple—one of many where the truth runs deep, in a conspiracy surpassing her imagination!

As winter whips to a crescendo, the year’s most anticipated celebration is nigh! In the midst of the season, Eli finds her own intelligence being weaponized against her. There’s a traitor near, and they’re leaking Eli’s private words to her political opponents. Furthermore, the queen reveals some of the darker aspects of wearing a crown—including the prospect of a harem?! Is Eli really prepared to take her seat beside the crown prince? Or will the “Ashen Nightmare” cut the year short?

Our Bibliophile Princess spent her days thinking her relationship with Crown Prince Christopher was merely a facade, but now Elianna knows their feelings are mutual. She was serving as his proxy at the Autumn Hunting Festival, but then another noble lady locked her inside an old castle where she was then assailed by foreign rabble-rousers. Fortunately, the prince swooped in with a timely rescue, but just who coordinated this attack to begin with?! There are ulterior motives at play here—ones that seem to involve the entire country.

Now that her misunderstanding about their engagement being a farce to please the nobles and pacify the current political climate has been resolved, Elianna and Prince Christopher are able to set a date for the official wedding in the spring. In the meantime, the prince is sent off on a diplomatic errand, and Eli is selected to act as his proxy in this year’s Autumn Hunting Festival. Scheming is afoot as someone suspicious from a foreign land infiltrates the festivities—their sight set on Eli. But just what are their intentions? And who is the mysterious phantom of the past, “Ladybird”?

When book-loving Lady Elianna spots Prince Christopher—her betrothed in name only—consorting with another noble lady, she realizes the recent rumors must be true. The prince has someone he truly loves, which means the annulment of their engagement is both inevitable and fast-approaching. What she doesn’t realize is that this is merely a surface ripple—one of many where the truth runs deep, in a conspiracy surpassing her imagination!