"Rogue and Royalty" is a captivating romance novel that takes place in medieval times, where two unlikely characters from rival mafia families find themselves caught in a dangerous game of love and betrayal. The story follows the journey of the rogue, a cunning and daring member of the mafia, and the royalty, a young and innocent member of a powerful family, as they navigate through the treacherous world of their families' feuds and forbidden love. As their paths cross and their hearts collide, they must choose between their loyalty to their families and their love for each other. With thrilling plot twists and steamy romance, "Rogue and Royalty" is a must-read for fans of medieval romance and mafia dramas.
Chapter 1: An Unlikely Encounter
The sun was setting over the city as Rogue made his way through the bustling streets. He was a member of the infamous Black Cross mafia family, known for their ruthlessness and cunning tactics. Rogue had grown up in this life, taught from a young age to do whatever it took to survive.
As he walked, he noticed a commotion up ahead. A group of men had cornered a woman in an alleyway, and they were shouting at her to hand over her purse. Rogue knew he should keep walking, that interfering in someone else's business was dangerous. But something about the woman caught his eye.
She was small and delicate, with long dark hair and piercing green eyes. Her clothes were simple but elegant, and she held herself with a grace that belied her fear. Rogue felt a strange pull towards her, something he couldn't quite explain.
Without thinking, he stepped forward and cleared his throat. The men turned to face him, sneering at the interruption. Rogue didn't flinch. He was used to this kind of confrontation.
"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" he asked, his voice calm and even.
The men laughed, sizing up Rogue's lean frame. "This doesn't concern you, boy. Move along."
Rogue didn't move. He couldn't take his eyes off the woman, who was watching him with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
"Hand over the purse," one of the men growled, taking a step forward.
Rogue didn't hesitate. In one swift movement, he drew his dagger and held it to the man's throat.
"I said, is there a problem here?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.
The other men backed away, their bravado fading in the face of Rogue's fierce determination. They eventually slunk off into the shadows, leaving Rogue and the woman alone in the alley.
Rogue sheathed his dagger and turned to face her. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice softer now.
The woman nodded, her eyes wide with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaking.
Rogue felt a strange warmth spreading through his chest, something he hadn't felt in a long time. He couldn't explain it, but he knew he wanted to protect this woman, to keep her safe from harm.
"What's your name?" he asked, stepping closer to her.
She hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm Lady Isabella of the White Rose family," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rogue's heart skipped a beat. The White Rose family was one of the Black Cross's biggest rivals, known for their wealth and power.
He should have walked away then, should have left her to her own devices. But something about her drew him in, made him want to get to know her better.
"I'm Rogue," he said, offering her a small smile.
Isabella returned the smile, her eyes lighting up. For a moment, they simply stood there, looking at each other in the fading light.
It was the beginning of a forbidden romance, one that would test their loyalties and push them to their limits. But in that moment, all they could see was each other, and the promise of something more.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."