A Branch in the Narrative: Willing Sacrifice, or Betrayed Victim? (Patreon)

Hello!

Let's try a poll!  I've never done one of these before on Patreon, so I'm curious to see how it goes.  Alongside Constant, I'm writing a fantasy-themed short story.  I've reached the point in the story wher I've got to make a key decision regarding backstory, namely the means by which the TG hero(ine) ended up under the influence of the antagonist. I've got two ideas, and each brings a different nuance to character and plot, and how the protagonist will react to circumstances.

The backstory goes something like this: the princess, strong-willed and wild, insists on going riding one day.  The King submits but insists that Duncan--that's our protagonist, the "Axe of the North"--rides along with her.  The princess's handmaiden and a few guards tag along as well.  The lands are safe and they're far from any threats.

Nevertheless, they are ambushed.  In the scuffle, the princess breaks away - Duncan follows, leaving the guards to defend the handmaiden.  He catches up to the princess and saves her from the attackers.  They escape, and hide out in some ruins.  During the night, the princess expresses her gratitude; there is a scene of tender intimacy between them--ruined, as their pursuers find them.  They are attacked, the princess struck down, and Duncan knocked unconscious.

So, here are the options; which one do you prefer?

Option 1: Willing Sacrifice --  wheels within wheels, the whole attack was orchestrated and Duncan set up to fall.  He doesn't know this, of course, but is coerced into taking the blame - for the handmaiden and guards' deaths; the princess's apparent death or kidnapping; and his own flagrant disregard for her royal body. Rather than the dishonour and bloody conseuqences this will bring upon him, his House and people, he agrees to be handed over to House Malveil, who "adopt" him into their family.  But they have no use for another "son"--the killed handmaiden was the last unmarried daughter of the House, and they seek a replacement--Duncan, renamed Aubriella.

Option 2: Betrayed Victim -- much more simple.  The attack was orchestrated, and Duncan leapt to the defence of the princess, and after a brief but savage battle was overwhelmed and knocked unconscious.  He wakes up in a cell and finds he's been captured by House Malveil.  There he is transformed into Aubriella, and tortured and trained into submission.

There are a bunch of details deliberately left out here - the princess's agency in all this, Malveil's motivation, and who the attackers are, and why. I've got my own preference in this, but am curious which of the two 'paths' you all find most compelling.  Vote below!