Married an Elven King by Mistake

Vera Nelson, Duke Nelson's eldest daughter, stands as queen consort to Cassian III and swears loyalty to Stonehold. Then Evelina, her own sister, stabs her. This is the future Vera sees at the spring crown rite. She rejects it.

At the rite, Evelina throws her crown at Crown Prince Cassian Alessar. Vera throws hers at a dwarf called Kai. The vow cannot be broken. Breaking it banishes House Nelson from Stonehold. Vera chooses Kai anyway. Her family cuts her off.

Kai warns he has no roof and no full belly. She wants freedom more than titles. At the wedding, Kai arrives late and dressed poorly. Vera defends him. They go to a shack in the woods.

Kai gives her a pendant left by his father, with a laurel leaf and moonstone, and tells her, “you are queen of my kind.” He hides that he is the Elven King. Someone later calls him your majesty; he says she misheard. He says the elven court is too dangerous to involve her.

Dragons attack and an elven elder collapses. Kai leaves for Silver Moon Forest. He orders the finest pieces from the elven vaults sent to House Nelson and tells them Vera brought them home herself, so she will not be humiliated.

Vera returns alone. Evelina mocks her dwarf husband. Cassian has already humiliated Evelina: he left her alone on their wedding night and went to a brothel. Vera gives her parents handkerchiefs she embroidered. Her father slaps them to the ground and calls her a worthless girl. Evelina picks them up and tears them. Cassian calls dwarves trash and their wives worse, saying their gifts are beneath notice. Her mother asks what a dwarf's wife could possibly bring that is worth anything.

Her father hits her. The pendant falls to the ground. He sees the laurel leaf on it and recognizes the Elven royal crest.

A steward from the Silver Moon Court arrives with gifts for Lady Vera and calls her our Queen. The family assumes the gifts are for Cassian through the old betrothal. Vera says a gift's worth is in the thought behind it. Vera's sincerity wins the Elven King's heart. She becomes queen, and Evelina is exiled to the land of Dragons to suffer the fate she created.