The Raven's Greenhouse

I, Ksenia Voronova, was never meant to rule. But on his deathbed, my father made me swear to protect our empire, the Voronova Syndicate, and to destroy the rivals who poisoned him. I wear my title like armor and my cruelty like a crown, because in the city of Chevona, emotion is a fatal liability. My world is one of cold steel and colder betrayals, and I trust no one - except perhaps Luka, the quiet gardener who tends to the black roses in my late mother's greenhouse. He alone sees the cracks in my facade, offering silent comfort with a cup of tea or a simple bandage for my bloodied knuckles. His gentle presence is a weakness I cannot afford, a warmth that threatens to melt the permafrost around my heart. But as I draw closer to my father's killer, I uncover a conspiracy that goes deeper than rival families, suggesting the traitor is someone in my innermost circle. Can I trust the quiet man who cultivates life in a world of death, or is he just another beautiful poison?