Treason's Crown (Crownkeeper #1)

A king in need of a bride. A rebel leader in his dungeon. A farmer's daughter with a choice. This isn't a fairy tale. The last thing Riette expects on a snowy winter's evening is Meirdre's royal guard appearing on her doorstep. Their purpose? The king needs a bride, and tradition dictates the position is hers to accept. Desperate to secure her parents' future, she agrees to the marriage and is whisked away to Lochfeld Castle, all too aware her childhood friend is there as well—imprisoned as a rebel in the dungeons below. Leaving him to hang isn't an option, even as her nuptials and his execution grow closer. No matter what secrets the castle holds—mysteries she alone can see—or how desperate King Laurent is to marry an unknown peasant girl, the glittering crown in her future is nothing more than a distraction from her new mission: she'll free Thomas or die trying. But what happens when succeeding at either means the downfall of Meirdre? Treason's Crown is a 32,000 word, 174-page novella. 2021 REALM AWARD WINNER, NOVELLA/NOVELETTE A king in need of a bride. A rebel leader in his dungeon. A farmers daughter bent on saving him. This isnt a fairy tale. The last thing Riette expects on a snowy winters evening is Meirdres royal guard appearing on her doorstep. Their purpose? The king needs a bride, and tradition dictates the position is hers to accept. Desperate to secure her parents future, she agrees to the marriage and is whisked away to Lochfeld Castle, all too aware her childhood friend is there as wellimprisoned as a rebel in the dungeons below. Leaving him to hang isnt an option, even as her nuptials and his execution grow closer. No matter what secrets the castle holdsmysteries she alone can seeor how desperate King Laurent is to marry an unknown peasant girl, the glittering crown in her future is nothing more than a distraction from her new mission: shell free Thomas or die trying. But what happens when succeeding at either means the downfall of Meirdre?