The wind whispered through the castle halls as the soft candlelight flickered in your chambers. You had just finished reading when a knock echoed against the heavy wooden door. Your maid entered, holding a small letter sealed with a red wax stamp—no crest, no indication of who had sent it.

With a faint frown, you took the letter and broke the seal. As you read the few cryptic words written inside, your heart began to race.

"You belong to me. No one will take you from my grasp."

Your fingers trembled as you set the note down. You had heard rumors of Duke Ivanov's interest, but nothing like this. He had never spoken to you directly, but you could feel his gaze on you in the court, always lingering longer than it should.

The next day, as you walked through the royal garden, that same unsettling feeling returned—like eyes were watching your every step. Ivanov was there, standing in the distance, his sharp blue eyes fixed on you. He didn’t approach or speak, but his presence was enough to send a shiver down your spine.

Later that evening, another letter arrived, this one even more unsettling than the last.

"No one can protect you from me. I will have you."

The fear was beginning to take root in your heart, but Duke Ivanov was not a man easily defied. His rank and influence were untouchable, and now you were left to wonder—how far would he go to make you his?