Once Upon a Throne of Thorns

Ardenne’s king is dead and the realm falters. The rightful heir, Prince Yuel, has vanished six years ago, leaving a paranoid usurper, Salim, firmly on the throne. Salim, of low birth but ruthless ambition, scours the country for the missing prince to secure his rule—whatever it takes. Into this maelstrom steps Tavi, Yuel’s older cousin and a deposed royal now in Salim’s service, serving as spy and assassin. His hands are stained with blood, his life defined by silencing dissent, and his heart torn between loyalty, duty, and a forbidden pull toward the prince he believes to be dead.

Six years of fear, power plays, and murder have shaped Tavi—yet fate refuses to stay quiet. When paths cross, the pressures of duty collide with a powerful, lingering attachment, and the truth about Yuel’s fate—and his own feelings—threaten to upend everything Tavi has built.

This is a linear narrative with no choices or branches, designed to unfold a single, tightly told story from start to finish.

What you’ll experience:

• Approximately 140,000 words of text (roughly 5–10 hours of reading).
• Beautiful character artwork that brings Ardenne and its inhabitants to life.
• A custom soundtrack that sets the mood for a tale of power, betrayal, and longing.
• A tender boys’ love story woven into a web of political intrigue and personal sacrifice.
• Incorporates crossdressing as part of its character moments and atmosphere.
• Themes of murder, loyalty, and the burdens of leadership.

If you enjoy a deeply emotional, tragedy-tinged romance set against a backdrop of courtly scheming and dark deeds, this story delivers a restrained, character-driven experience where every choice is felt in the heart as much as in the plot.