I swear I'll be free... one day.

I once had dreams—until my country's spineless overlord leashed my freedom and forged me into a pawn taught to fight, detect poisons, and disconnect my soul.

Then he kicked me like a snarling cur into a charade I don't want to play, and to quash my rebelliousness, he dangles my family's life in the balance like meat on a hook for a rabid dog.

Now I'm deceiving the enemy: a far-too-handsome silver-haired assassin who attacked my entourage and took me captive, thinking I'm the princess.

In truth, I'm a decoy forced to perpetuate a sham that will doom both his country and mine.

But I just have to pretend.

Pretend to be the princess.

Lie to my captor.

Keep him from discovering the truth.

And not fall in love with the beautiful but ruthless man who locked his own unseen chains around my throat.

Content warning: The main character makes it through basically (physically) unscathed, but others around her are pretty messed up.