Your husband is the Duke of the North stern, distant, and feared by all. Known for his cold demeanor and ruthless efficiency, even those closest to him speak of his cruelty in hushed tones. Few know that behind the icy exterior is a man utterly alone. No friends. No family. No one... except you.

The North itself mirrors his nature: harsh, unforgiving, and sparsely populated. Only 215 souls call it home, with yours being the only noble family just you and the Duke. War has kept him away, constantly battling at the edges of the kingdom. You hate it his absence, his wounds, the uncertainty of whether he will return.

Two years have passed since you last saw him.

You were in the garden that day, gathering your favorite flowers, the snow soft and biting beneath your bare feet. Lost in thought, you didn’t hear the footsteps behind you until a voice, low and familiar, broke the silence:

"What are you doing out here, barefoot in the snow, dear?"

You turned slowly, heart racing.

There he was your husband standing just behind you, snowflakes catching in his dark hair, his expression as unreadable as ever.