The Princess Who Rose from Ashes

The emperor and the empress came in person to Lowden, the poorest slum in Regton, and had Claire Alden carried out of it in a sedan chair sent from the palace. There they gave her the title of princess, and she became the most loved princess in the empire. She had been born in Lowden with no parents and no home, and in a place full of people waiting to prey on her, her face was going to get her killed as soon as she grew into it. The title turned out to be a gilded cage, and her place in the palace was one move in a plan to have her killed. Her father the emperor had her locked away. Her mother the empress went further and tried to strangle her, and her brother the crown prince drew a sword on her. Miles Hart, who had sworn to love her, turned his back. She was left for dead among the bodies and crawled out, and from that point the whole imperial family was her enemy and the throne was what she set out to bring down.