Description
In the glittering courts of 18th-century Vienna, where power is bought with secrets and alliances are sealed with lies, Elisabeth von Falkenstein hides a truth that could destroy her family-and herself. Raised by her ambitious father to live as Elias, a nobleman and captain in the Habsburg court, Elisabeth navigates a world where swords and diplomacy are equally sharp. Her double life grants her power, but it also chains her to a role she never chose. When a fiery revolutionary named Anna infiltrates the court, Elisabeth's carefully constructed facade begins to crack. Drawn to Anna's courage and her dream of freedom for the oppressed, Elisabeth finds herself questioning the very empire she has sworn to protect. But loyalty is not easily abandoned, and the court is rife with betrayal. Caught between her duty to the crown and her growing desire to fight for justice, Elisabeth must confront the duality of her existence. As Elias, she commands respect and fear. As Elisabeth, she risks her heart and her life. Amidst conspiracies, forbidden love, and the looming threat of revolution, Elisabeth must decide who she truly is-and who she will become. For in a world poised on the edge of change, even a single jasmine flower can topple an empire.
The Jasmine of Vienna Prologue: The Mask and the Mirror
