Beneath the Minister's Mask

Daphne Marlowe grew up spoiled and willful and gave nothing much any thought. Then her family was accused of betraying the kingdom to a rival state, and all of them were put to death on the charge. She wakes again at an earlier point in her life. She goes to the Prime Minister, Sylas Blackwood, kneels, and asks him for the authority and the protection she will need to keep her family alive this time. He takes her on. Under him she enrolls in the imperial school and stops being the girl she was, growing into someone steady and quick. There are misunderstandings between them, and there is court intrigue and danger to get through together. Sylas keeps a secret of his own. Daphne works at his closed-off heart until it opens, and the two of them come to count as family to each other.