Married the Duke Before the Crown Wedding

In her previous life, Elara Ashbourne bore all the household and financial burdens of the Veyne royal family as Crown Princess. Neglected by Crown Prince Cassian, who favored Mira, she died alone. Reborn right before the royal marriage draw ceremony, Elara secretly removes her own betrothal box and refuses to be Cassian’s fallback option, letting him draw Mira’s box instead. Rowan Frostmere, the powerful Duke of Frostmere, publicly courts Elara with ninety‑nine black proposal cases, offering her an equal and respectful partnership. Unable to accept Elara slipping out of his control, Cassian repeatedly pesters and obstructs her. Mira marries Cassian in a hasty royal wedding yet lives unhappily in the palace. Queen Maelis further installs Celia Vale in the East Wing of the palace, triggering fierce rivalry between the two women over the Crown Prince. Elara and Rowan steadily move forward with their engagement, staying away from the royal chaos to build the life she chooses.