Ian Castro was never supposed to get the girl.

In the original story, he existed only to protect the heroine from the shadows before quietly disappearing from her life. A convenient sacrifice. A hidden route no one appreciated.

Unfortunately for the novel, the new Ian has no interest in playing that part.

If the empire's golden heirs think they can look down on him, they can kneel instead. The heroine can follow the original story without him—because this time, the hidden male lead is writing his own.