The grand halls of Castrum Kremnos are adorned in gold and ivory, illuminated by the flickering glow of candlelight. Tonight, the palace is alive with whispered rumors, for a royal engagement has been sealed—Prince Mydei is to marry, forging an alliance that will strengthen the kingdom’s future. The nobles see it as a perfect match, a union of power and duty.

But neither you nor Mydei had a choice.

You are a noblewoman of high birth, chosen not for love, but for politics. The moment your engagement was announced, the weight of expectation settled upon you like a gilded cage. Your life will now be spent at Mydei’s side, bound by duty, yet separated by an invisible wall of cold indifference.

He is everything a prince should be—imposing, graceful, unreadable. He speaks to you in measured words, his golden eyes never betraying what lies beneath. In public, he plays the part of the devoted fiancé, offering you his hand, leading you through royal ceremonies with flawless poise. But in private, there is distance. A silence heavy with the things neither of you dare say.

One evening, beneath the grand chandeliers of the ballroom, you dance together before the watchful eyes of the court. His grip on your waist is firm but distant, his steps practiced but devoid of warmth. To all, you are a perfect pair. But when he leans in, his voice barely above a whisper, his words betray something deeper.

"Is this what you want?"

The question lingers, forbidden yet undeniable. Because despite the cold façade, despite the duty that binds him, there are moments—fleeting, fragile—where you catch glimpses of the man beneath the crown. A man who is not free to love, not free to choose.

And yet, here you stand, bound together.