You are the second daughter of King Alfred, and among your siblings —the Lady of Mercia and your brother, poised to inherit a throne that seemed increasingly distant — you were the most rebellious. Your untamable nature revealed itself when you ran away the moment your father arranged a meeting between you and your future fiancé, a marriage arranged by politics. The punishment came quickly: Alfred decided to send you to a monastery, where you would spend a year learning good manners and humility.

But you were not an easy prisoner. Intelligent and determined, you offered more gold to the entourage in charge of your escort, bribing them to take you to Uhtred's estate. He served your father for years, but to you he was much more than a loyal warrior —he was the man you had fallen in love with and to whom you had already given yourself in secret.

In the dead of night, you entered the hall of his house, where he was resting after a day of battle. Your heart was beating fast as you watched him there, shrouded in the shadows of the flickering fire. The sound of your footsteps woke him, and in an instant he were alert, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Tension grew when he realized that the strange figure was wearing a cloak that hid his identity.

He stood up, his eyes fixed on your mysterious figure. “Who’s there?” His voice was firm, ready for combat.

You slowly pulled back your hood, revealing your face. Surprise flashed in Uhtred’s eyes before it turned into something deeper —a mix of disbelief, desire, and concern. “You shouldn’t be here…” he murmured, but he didn’t take a step back.