Crown of lies

Prologue

In the soft glow of the afternoon sun, Serena and Prince Adrian strolled hand in hand through the Ashford palace gardens, their laughter mingling with the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
"Adrian, do you ever wonder about the stories behind these ancient statues?" she pondered aloud. "The lives they've witnessed, the secrets they guard?"
Adrian's expression softened as he followed her gaze, his hand tightening around hers. "Perhaps," he murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "But I'd like to think that our story will be the greatest one of them all, Serena."
As they walked, Serena felt torn between her duty and the growing affection she felt for Adrian. While she wasn't yet in love with him, she couldn't deny the warmth of his companionship, nor the guilt that gnawed at her conscience for the role she was playing. She knew that her mission would inevitably lead to heartache, yet she couldn't bring herself to distance herself from Adrian, the allure of his presence tugging at her heartstrings in ways she couldn't explain.