I Was the Crown Princess He Left Behind

When royalty demands sacrifice, love is the first thing to burn. Orphaned Elise rises from obscurity to become the Crown Princess, devoting seven years to protecting Sebastian—the prince who once promised her forever. But the palace is a cage of ambition and betrayal, and when Sebastian chooses power and another bride over their bond, Elise is cast out, forced to rebuild her life from nothing in a distant town. As she finds purpose and unexpected family, Sebastian ascends the throne, haunted by regret and the woman he lost. In a world where every gesture is a calculation and forgiveness comes at a price, can Elise ever let go of a love that nearly destroyed her—or will the past return, offering a crown at the cost of her freedom? When the boat docks and old wounds reopen, will she choose the life she’s built, or the love that broke her heart?