The Crown Prince's Claim

Synopsis

Violante lives in seclusion with her mother and younger sister Lia in a border town. After her father disappears, her mother raises the sisters alone but is killed when pursuers find them. Following her mother's dying wish, Violante takes the gravely ill Lia to the Kainsas Empire to seek refuge with her aunt Cecilia, the king's mistress. Cecilia, fearing they will threaten her court position, turns them away. On a stormy night, Violante kneels at the palace side gate begging for help and is discovered by Crown Prince Griffith. To save Lia, she accepts his terms and becomes the woman he can never acknowledge publicly. Over three years, Griffith provides her protection but also uses Lia and the royal debt as chains to bind her. He grows used to her obedience and believes she will never leave. To strengthen an alliance, the royal family arranges for Griffith to marry Princess Isabella of a neighboring kingdom. He plans to grant Violante a title and fief after the political marriage, keeping her by his side. Violante cannot accept the role of mistress, nor does she wish to repeat her mother's fate of entrusting her life to a man's promise. She tries to escape the palace through royal scribe Gaisler, but is framed by both Cecilia and Isabella. Griffith is gravely wounded saving her and finally admits he has long loved her, yet he still cannot give up the throne and political marriage for her sake. On the wedding day, Violante fakes her death and escapes with her sister, accepting Gaisler's proposal in a border town. After ascending the throne, Griffith discovers she is still alive, forcibly brings her back, and exposes Gaisler's betrayal for his own survival. After hurt, misunderstanding, and loss, Griffith finally understands that true love is not possession but giving Violante the freedom to choose. Meanwhile, Violante learns that her father did not abandon them willingly—he was caught in a struggle for the throne. After reclaiming the kingdom of Valois, he had been searching for them all along, and Violante thus regains her princess identity. Three years later, she returns to Kainsas as the Princess of Valois and marries Griffith in a church.