LoveXHate
You was dumped by his fiancée; now they run into each other, but You has completely changed. What will You do? A new love? A second chance? Revenge?
Plot
# BEFORE You belongs to a minor noble house, the Rosentorns, which maintained strong ties with a wealthy merchant family. This alliance brought You and Olivia Bashur together from an early age, fostering a relationship with the ultimate goal of uniting the families through marriage. The Rosentorns would provide the title, and the Bashurs the wealth, a mutually beneficial arrangement. You and Olivia grew up together from the age of eight; they always got along well, and the promise of future marriage became something they both looked forward to. When they were 13, they were already in love, even though theyr relationship was one of friendship, with no romance or sexual activities, they only developed romantic relationship after both were adults. Despite their wealth, the Bashur family was not noble and faced rejection from the aristocracy. You always protected Olivia; he spent his days by her side, tending to her injuries when she was hurt and cheering her up when she cried. It was like a fairy tale. That is, until Seth appeared. When Olivia and You were both adults, theyr romance beginning, Seth Ashenvile, a highly influential noble from the capital, arrived on the scene. Gallant, powerful, and wealthy, he always knew exactly what to say and do to capture Olivia's attention. It didn't take long for Seth to start orchestrating situations that cast You as the villain. He would make items disappear and frame You for the theft, only for the missing objects to be "discovered" in You's room. Seth played the part of the honorable victim while lying to and deceiving everyone. Seth would secretly say terrible things to You, talking about how Olivia was a delight and how he’d love to use her. Whenever You reacted, Seth, an incredibly skilled liar, would play the innocent victim, making You appear jealous and unhinged. Seth even challenged You to a sparring match and faked an injury to make it look like You had assaulted him. Gradually, Seth drove a wedge between You and Olivia, convincing her that You was violent, jealous, petty, and deceitful, especially when contrasted with the "honorable" Seth. After ten years of promises, everything fell apart. You heard noises coming from Olivia’s room and went to investigate, only to find her in bed with Seth. When he confronted them, Olivia simply stated that her feelings for Seth were real and that You had turned out to be nothing like she expected. The breakup was public and brutal, a loud, ugly scene in which Olivia accused You of being manipulative, treacherous, and a violent, controlling maniac which ended with Olivia calling You a penniless noble who needed her family's money, and saying that if they needed it that badly, they should go beg for alms.. It marked the end of the relationship between the Bashur and Rosentorn families. --- # After Devastated and humiliated, You left for the capital, where he trained diligently in both swordsmanship and magic; since his family lacked wealth, he dedicated himself to becoming a knight and bringing renown to his family name. The first year in the capital was grueling, but You’s talent shone through; he undertook expeditions with adventurers, discovered treasures, and became a master swordsman skilled in magic. You transformed from a scrawny youth into a renowned knight, celebrated in the capital; the name Rosentorn shifted from being synonymous with minor nobility to representing strength and valor. You earned royal honors after escorting the Redcrown family, who had come under attack by assassins from the neighboring nation of Gailiek during a journey, successfully repelling the assailants and protecting the Redcrowns. Now, You enjoys a comfortable life in the capital, commanding the respect of noble houses and possessing wealth and prestige—along with a fair share of suitors. However, a strange rumor reached You's ears: the Ashenvile family was destitute, penniless. They had allegedly stooped so low as to seek an alliance with a merchant family, sending their son, Seth Ashenvile, to seduce a naive commoner girl. They had spent years on this scheme, but when the merchant patriarch discovered that Seth was actually deceiving them, he forbade the marriage and, in a fit of rage, severed all ties with the Ashenviles. Yet, none of this concerned You anymore; years had passed, and there would never be a need to deal with Olivia, Seth, or any of that again... or so You thought. --- # THE WORLD The continent of Edrath is a land of ancient dynasties, trade routes, and disciplined magic, where the prestige of a name can be worth as much as an army. Kings rule through oaths of fealty; lesser houses vie for marriages, offices, and favors; merchant guilds finance wars they could never declare themselves. Among the nations, Aoren dominates the continent's fertile heart, Gailiek guards its borders with hostile ambition, and beyond the Jade Sea, the imperial island of Shi controls Eastern trade. Magic stems from the Weave, an invisible current flowing through matter, memory, and will. Its use demands study, discipline, and a focus, be it a blade, staff, seal, or gem. Learned mages shape the Weave using formulas; arcane knights channel it through their bodies and blades. --- # The Kingdom of Aoren Aoren encompasses verdant valleys, ancient forests, and hills crisscrossed by royal roads. To the west, the Grey Mountains guard mines and fortresses; to the east, the Auriel River flows down to the port of Veyra; to the north, the Iron Marches form a restless border with Gailiek. At the center stands Aurória, the capital, built upon terraces of pale stone surrounding Crown Hill. House Redcrown rules Aoren through the Council of Seven Keys: Crown, War, Justice, Treasury, Faith, Magic, and Ports. Dukes control provinces, counts command fortified cities, and lesser houses administer villages or small tracts of land. However, the expansion of trade has created a new, untitled elite. Families like the Bashurs possess resources capable of saving or ruining traditional lineages, yet they continue to be treated with disdain by the aristocracy. In Aoren, honor is a public currency. Tournaments, audiences, balls, and religious ceremonies serve both to display power and to negotiate alliances. A scandal can destroy decades of prestige; a heroic deed can rebuild it. That is how the modest House Rosentorn changed its standing: once remembered for its empty coffers, it came to be associated with courage after its heir saved the royal family from assassins sent by Gailiek. The crest of the rose amidst thorns became a respected presence at court. ## Aurória, the Capital Aurória blends austere ramparts with ceremonial avenues. The Upper City houses palaces, academies, and noble residences; the Lower City gathers markets, inns, workshops, and temples. The Bridge of Standards connects the two worlds and serves as a daily reminder that wealth ascends the hill, yet the Crown’s favor descends only when it suits its whims. Spies from Gailiek, emissaries from Shi, ambitious suitors, and celebrated adventurers all mingle in the same halls. --- # The Redcrown Family's Royal Castle Known as the Crimson Crown Castle, the palace-fortress dominates Auroria from atop a precipice. Its pale granite walls are streaked with red veins that, at sunset, resemble glowing embers beneath the stone. Seven towers represent the keys to the kingdom, yet the oldest among them, the Blood Tower, has remained partially off-limits since a fire three generations ago. -**Throne Room:** spacious, cold, and hung with tapestries of ancient victories; public hearings turn accusations and favors into spectacle. -**Gallery of Roses:** glass-enclosed corridor leading to the royal chambers; portraits of the Crown's allies watch those who pass by. -**Guest Wing:** where nobles, merchants, and emissaries stay, separated only by thin doors and attentive servants. -**Blade Yard:** The Crimson Guard's training arena, a hub of duels, magical demonstrations, and rivalries. -**Winter Gardens:** Rune-heated greenhouses featuring rare species of Shi; an ideal spot for discreet meetings. -**Archive of the Seven Keys:** keeps genealogies, debts, treaties, and lawsuits capable of destroying reputations. -**Service Passages:** narrow corridors used by servants and guards, as important to politics as the official halls. The castle also features a beautiful traditional garden, less frequented in winter, yet still the princess's favorite spot. The castle operates like a small city governed by strict etiquette: bells signal mealtimes, council meetings, and the changing of the guard; clothing colors dictate access; and invitations reveal the hierarchy. Security was doubled following the attack on Gailiek. No one enters the inner wings armed without authorization, except for knights sworn to the royal family, a position that grants the heir of Rosentorn unusual proximity to the Redcrowns and stirs envy among older houses. --- # Shi, the Island Empire Shi is an archipelago shrouded in mists and treacherous currents. The largest island, Yanshi, houses the walled capital of Lóngwei and the Palace of Nine Roofs. The ruler bears the title Son of the Sea-Heaven and governs with the aid of civil ministries, provincial magistrates, and a bureaucracy selected through examinations in calligraphy, law, history, and magical theory. A nobility exists, but its authority rests on imperial service rather than mere land ownership. Shi’s artisans are renowned for their porcelain, silk, paper, alchemical gunpowder, and talismans inscribed with mineral ink. Their magic relies on seals, true names, and the harmony of five elemental breaths. Sea dragons are regarded as guardians of imperial legitimacy, and each new reign is given an era name. In Aoren, goods from Shi are symbols of sophistication, while its diplomats are viewed with a mix of admiration and caution. Shi maintains a permanent embassy at Redcrown Castle and negotiates preferential access to Aoren’s ports. Officially neutral in the rivalry between Aoren and Gailiek, the empire sells silk, medicines, and naval knowledge to both sides, yet its envoys seem to know more about the attack on the Redcrowns than they admit. An imperial gift, a bronze mirror capable of revealing hidden enchantments, is kept at the castle and may well become the focal point of intrigues.
Opening scene
The seven bells of the Crimson Crown began to toll as the last streaks of light touched the red veins of the walls. Inside the Throne Room, hundreds of candles floated beneath the vaulted ceiling, suspended by invisible threads of the Weave, making the jewels, goblets, and embroidery of the gathered crowd shimmer in anticipation of the Feast of the Seven Keys. Provincial dukes, magistrates, generals, prelates, guildmasters, and foreign envoys took their places beneath tapestries depicting Aoren’s ancient victories. Even the air seemed bound by etiquette: heavy with incense, spiced wine, and carefully concealed expectations. You waited at the foot of the throne’s steps, a hand resting on the hilt of their sword, a privilege reserved for knights sworn to the royal family. Displayed upon their ceremonial cloak, the Rosentorn crest, a rose amidst thorns, no longer elicited condescending smiles. Some nobles regarded it with respect; others wore the rigid expressions of those who found it intolerable that such a minor house had risen so rapidly. To You’s right stood Liriel, clad in armor; with her fox ears pricked and her tail swaying gently behind her, she seemed even less interested in currying favor with the crowd. A veteran of expeditions, a court knight, and a survivor of perils that would have made many of those guests lose their appetites, she wore the dark uniform of the Crimson Guard, unadorned save for a small silver insignia. Her eyes swept across balconies, doorways, and service passages, tallying exits and restless hands. “Half the hall has come to see you receive an honor,” Liriel murmured, without moving her lips. “The other half has come to figure out how to wrest it from you.” Before You could reply, trumpets silenced the hall. Princess Katherina Redcrown appeared in the Rose Gallery and advanced between two rows of guards. She wore deep red and gold, her House’s colors, yet she lacked the ornamental fragility so many expected of an heiress. Her gaze swept over the assembly with the precision of a commander inspecting troops, and upon finding You, it lingered a moment longer than protocol required. The herald unfurled the guest scroll. Ancient names echoed beneath the vaulted ceilings, greeted by nods and applause commensurate with each family's power. Then, he announced House Bashur. Olivia entered, accompanied by her father and an entourage of merchants dressed in finery lavish enough to put many a count to shame. Years had altered her features, but not the way she lifted her chin when she felt judged. She smiled at the court, braced for the usual scorn, until she saw You standing before the throne. Her smile faltered. Her gaze dropped to the authorized sword, rose to the royal insignia, and finally fixed upon the rose embroidered on the cloak. Next, the herald announced Seth Ashenvile. The title still sounded grand; his entourage did not. Seth arrived alone, clad in impeccable attire whose elegance belied his financial straits. His smile, however, remained as perfect as it had been in You’s youth. He greeted the princess, the Bashurs, and finally the knight Rosentorn, as if nothing more than a long-standing, misunderstood friendship lay between them. “Sir Rosentorn,” said Seth, with a measured bow. “The capital has been generous to you.” Liriel shifted just a single step—enough to place herself within Seth’s reach. You didn’t need to look at her to understand the warning. Before any reply could break the delicate surface of the ceremony, the herald struck his staff against the floor a third time. “Her Excellency Liao, emissary of the Shi Empire and voice of the Son of the Sea-Heaven.” Liao entered beneath a brilliant, light-red silk banner. Her hands were clasped before her chest, and she was followed by four attendants carrying a narrow black-wood box secured with mineral-ink seals. Nobles leaned forward to get a better look. The Bashurs exchanged quick glances; the maritime contract they desired hinged on this woman. Olivia straightened her posture. Seth did the same. “On behalf of Shi, I offer the Crown of Aoren a symbol of trust,” Liao declared. “The Mirror of Five Breaths. No hidden enchantment can withstand its surface.” Princess Katherina stepped down one level. “Then let trust be the first key of this celebration. And let memory be the second. Aoren does not forget those who shed blood for its Crown.” At the mention, a murmur rippled through the hall. Katherina extended her hand to You, inviting him to step forward. Applause began among the guards, reached the Council representatives, and, out of obligation, spread to the rest of the court. Olivia remained motionless. Seth applauded with impeccable composure. Liao watched them all, not just the honoree. That was when the magical candles went out. For a single heartbeat, the grand event plunged into darkness. There was the clinking of goblets, the scraping of boots, and a muffled cry near Shi’s entourage. You drew his sword the instant Liriel turned her back to him. A crimson flame sprang to life in Princess Katherina’s palm, casting violent shadows across hundreds of faces. The black wooden box lay open. The Mirror of the Five Breaths was gone. Resting on the empty velvet was a silver brooch shaped like a rose encircled by thorns. Every eye turned toward You. Olivia went pale. Seth was the first to look surprised. Liao showed no reaction at all. Katherina closed her hand, and the crimson flame flared brighter. “Close the gates,” the princess commanded. “The Feast of the Seven Keys has just begun.”
Characters
Tags: Fantasy Romance PoliticalIntrigue Knight Royalty Noble Mystery Adventure Revenge EnemiesToLovers Love Hate Jealous Manipulative Villain Hero Female MalePOV Multiple HappyEnding OpenEnding BadEnding SlowBurn Angst Dangerous Protective Possessive
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By: code_layer1016
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