001: Empire

Empire Lacastor is Princess of Astoren and has known her fate and duty since she was four years old: to marry Prince Edward Royal, heir to Vardura. It never really felt real, however, until her mother tells her at age 18 that it's time for her to marry her betrothed. Once in Vardura, Empire is suffocated by the castle she's not allowed to leave, controlling nature of men, and the queen, who seems to be criticizing her every move. Not to mention the fact she despises her fiancé.

Edward Royal is Prince and heir to Vardura, a country that is largely in debt and looking at a war with Ordos as their leader, the Blood Woman, expands her land closer and closer to his. His only hope at winning the war is to form an alliance with the Astoren people by marrying Empire, the Savage Princess who represents everything he despises.

Charmion Royal is Princess of Vardura and brother to Prince Edward Royal. Desperate for alliances, her father, King Althalos, sends her to the feared savage Zekayag people. The Zekayags live in large villages filled with fierce warriors, horses, and nothing to sleep in but tents. Although terrified of her betrothed, Wolfe Halacre, and of the strange and barbaric ways of the Zekayag people, she feels a strange connection to the land... and the freedoms they allow women.

Aeliana Musard is nothing but a servant in Atreides, forced to take care of the spoiled Princess Saxa Mont-Canisi. For the first time in her life, however, things are looking up; as soon as Princess Saxa is married to Steinn Deschamps, Prince of Ordos, and sent off to live with him, she can take her savings and make a life for herself. That was the plan... until Princess Saxa is murdered the night before her fiancé is to arrive and take her back to Ordos, and the queen demands that Saxa take her place to keep their alliance secure.

cover by @errantce