POV: In this ALT timeline, Howl never met Sophie, which leads him into a downward spiral of depression & anger from fighting in the war & no one to love. Many already fear Howl from rumors…it’s not until you see an magical ad that only those gifted can see that he’s in need of a maid to help his ever growing castle that you take up the job in exchange for living arrangements. You decide to try it out slowly seeing Howl’s once nice nature slowly come out as he’s very skeptical on who he meets