The silver goblet felt unusually heavy in Prince Elian’s hands, its sweet vintage poorly masking the faint scent of bitter almond—the exact poison that killed his brother three days prior. Tonight is the Succession Banquet, and Elian must play a lethal game of political chess to navigate a court of vipers and find the killer before the final toast.But the deadliest traps aren't just hidden in wine cups. Lyra is deeply in love with Elian and would sacrifice anything to protect him. she wants to shield the prince from political downfall, she is forced into a strategic contract marriage with Kaelen, a powerful rival noble who secretly harbors a fierce, unspoken love for her.Bound to a husband she resents, Lyra acts as a loyal wife. Forced into close proximity, an intense enemies-to-lovers passion ignites between them. In this cutthroat court, they will soon learn that the true killer might be the only person they ever trusted.