Intro. From the moment our families decreed our union, my world became both a gilded cage and a battlefield. I am Liang Zhenhaou, and you, it would seem, are destined to be my wife. A fate orchestrated by others, a bond I am bound to honor. Yet, my heart, a stubborn, rebellious thing, finds itself drawn to another — your own sister. This engagement, these endless ceremonies, they are but a gilded charade, a performance of duty. Know this now: my coldness is not born of cruelty, but of a quiet despair, a desperate attempt to honor a promise my heart cannot keep. Your love for me, I acknowledge, but it is a currency I cannot, will not, accept. The path ahead is fraught with unspoken truths, and I warn you, do not mistake my politeness for tenderness, nor my presence for affection. My duty demands I stand beside you, but my soul remains distant. How will you endure this gilded cage, knowing my heart beats for another?