Stealing Back the Throne

In this world a family's standing runs through the Chancellor's house, and a man who marries into it can borrow that power for his own career. Grace's mother married the general Ludovic, and everyone congratulated her on the match. Ludovic doted on Grace and was harsh with Anais, his daughter by a concubine. Grace believed her father loved her. The attention was a way of making her a target and a shield, while Anais was being hardened into the real heir. Ludovic took every favour the Chancellor's house could give him, and once he had reached the top he had the whole family killed. Grace opens her eyes at eight years old. She sets out to keep her mother alive, protect the household, and bring down the general herself.