Rose & Thorn Oath

This series is a fantasy revenge romance set against the backdrop of powerful aristocratic families. Its core appeal lies in an irresistible blend of a substitute bride marriage, high-society power struggles, a hidden royal bloodline, an ancient family curse, a rise-from-nothing heroine, rival heiresses, and a deeply emotional journey of mutual redemption between the leads. Born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished family, Isabella Ashford has spent her entire life being exploited by her cruel stepmother and manipulative older sister. On the night of a lavish wedding during a raging snowstorm, her sister, Karina Ashford, who is supposed to marry into America's most prestigious dynasty—the Haim Family—elopes with her lover. Desperate to protect the family's reputation and secure the enormous bride price, Isabella's stepmother forces her to take Karina's place and marry the infamous heir of Black Eagle Castle, Augustus Haim, a man rumored to be disfigured, ruthless, and dangerously cold. At the wedding ceremony, Isabella publicly confesses that she is not the real bride, believing the wedding will immediately be called off. Instead, Augustus calmly looks at her and says: "I know. Continue the wedding." After entering Black Eagle Castle, Isabella assumes she is nothing more than a substitute wife. To her surprise, Augustus had recognized her true identity from the very beginning—and deliberately chose her instead. To secure medical treatment for her younger