From Blood and Ash

Penelope Balfour, known as Makivka, is more than just the orphaned daughter of wealthy nobles close to the royal family. She is the Maiden, chosen for an important religious ritual. Her life is filled with luxury but devoid of freedom. Bound by strict rules, Makivka secretly defies them. She learns martial arts, helps the needy, and secretly explores the world beyond the castle walls.
One day, disguised, Makivka meets a mysterious stranger on the street. He mistakes her for a servant he has a date with – a pleasure unavailable to the Maiden. Soon, this stranger appears at the castle as… her new personal guard. The girl is shocked. Meeting the stranger marks the beginning of incredible adventures that make Makivka doubt everything she knows about the world and about herself.