Lun,(.a,``= a*]] !#m^$][ixed‑)blood Beta, is ,u$sed as a:]_ scap_)egoat by her family.` She+?( i):s offered u-,p in place o\f her arr[ ogant older si?ster Selena to Kael, th\
(e S).had?\;ow Lord, `who i+%s rumored to b  e \-@ ] /terrif[ying‑lo^(oking+ and whose partner)=_#s never s`ur.v#ive m]
%;or!+e  %(than =`*three yea%rs.
In the grand hall of the Shado*-?w Ci
#?t_adel# , *#she witn))/esses * t*he ty*@rant writhing in agony[(* as da%),rk\= crimson curse runes devour) his body. By_ chance,@ h. er touch cau+ses the cu_=rse mar)ks] t ^o crack ;;and fa=`de+
[\ —_[: she is the living antidote) he% h?as sought ^for* three hundred ye*ars.
Against @#her will, he pins ?/^her u`,pon his t?)hrone ;and hurls he r onto th,!%e carpet,%( (/(fo
,rcing her to endure both agon!y)[ and ;[_pleasure. Thre.e days later, ;;*he pe/ rsonal+*@ly %se(nds ,\h,. er* into the Moon@[lit Tr=
*_ials, forcing h)?(-e )$,r to s)tand before  the entire/ _* no!]\+bility` / =with her low‑status mixe%d‑blood !*.heritage.
When her`^@ sist=(- er publicly smashes her tournam!%en_*t insig,nia an_*d sn`#ee!rs :$that it is a counterf,$[
-eit,*. the mysterious supr*eme lord in, his %%silvery‑white mask steps out f?-rom ;!*the crowd.? His dee]p voice rumb/-les: “A to`ken bestowed - b:?y:`.
my.; own han^d, and $you d \[are c$all it co*^un=ter%fe)it%?”