A forced marriage. A wicked romance. A new life.

Cecile had been resigned to her fate. She'd long since accepted that she would one day be forced into a political marriage with some rich old noble. She was the illegitimate child of King Navitan and her future was set in stone.

Reality, however, proves to be even worse than anticipated. Without warning, Cecile finds herself hauled into a carriage and presented in marriage to none other than Emperor Estian, an infamous tyrant and notorious sadist. Her response to that? Sabotaging the whole deal. She puts on the mask of an unreasonable shrew in hopes of meeting a quick death and dragging her father's kingdom down with her.

Contrary to her expectations, all of her absurd requests are accommodated, and it quickly becomes apparent to her that she is in for more than a simple political marriage. Can Cecile become the villainess her tyrant requires, or will she succumb to the dangers lurking in the empire?

Among these scheming walls, only the wicked can survive.