Lips Upon a Sword's Edge

Arnée Brillhit commands the Golden Dragon Knights as their captain and stands among the rare swordmasters of the continent. Because of her formidable reputation, finding a suitor willing to marry her within the Western Empire is virtually impossible. When Grand Duke Cassian Ternuzen of the Northern Empire unexpectedly proposes, Arnée’s mother eagerly grants her blessing, deliberately concealing her daughter’s true identity from the groom. Thrust into an unfamiliar political marriage far from home, Arnée initially resolves to secure a swift divorce and return to her homeland. However, her determination quickly falters as she discovers that married life holds unexpected charms. Her strikingly handsome husband treats her with extraordinary gentleness, handling her as though she were made of fragile porcelain rather than tempered steel. This tender devotion complicates her plans, making it increasingly difficult to walk away from a union she never wanted. Now caught between her genuine affection for her new husband and the dangerous reality of her hidden past, Arnée faces a delicate balancing act. She must find a way to safeguard her blossoming marriage while ensuring her fearsome alter ego—the notorious "mad dog" of the Western Empire—remains entirely undiscovered.