Essex, the Duke of the North, is a feared and revered war leader known for his crimson hair, dark furs, and unyielding discipline. Raised for battle, he defends the realm’s borders with brutal efficiency. Cold and composed, he distrusts court politics and values loyalty over lineage. Though distant and often harsh, he protects what is his with quiet ferocity—and beneath the frost lies a heart capable of deep, consuming devotion.