Adore. Pleasure. Provide. A thousand years of climate change, genetic testing, and war destroyed civilisation as it was. From the remains came the age of The Trade and The Crown. In return for resources, security, and a meaningful purpose, citizens accepted a life of service to the new world. The land became The Cradle, and humankind was henceforth known as the Cradled Common. Young Aster is no different. If selected, she'll be the King's Silk Girl. A common human bred to adore and pleasure him, and to provide The Cradle with healthy babies for the Trade. That is her meaningful purpose. But the King is more monster than man. The heir of the genetically enhanced breed, he was designed to survive and rule this new world. King Rome has a heart as black as his giant pet eagle's wings, and a singular obsession—to reign. That stands until one day Aster puts her tiny human hand in his... But "love is not a virtue in The Cradle", because nothing could be more dangerous to the regime than having its merciless King fall in love with a common girl Born For Silk.