The winter was about to swallow the kingdom whole. The emperor was dead. Just as the people started to wonder if that was the end of a great and rich empire, a young boy presented himself before the court, declaring to be the Emperor's forgotten son.

The court was in disarray, never had the Emperor named a son before his death and yet the people were tempted to trust the child. The nation needed a leader and the kid, no matter who he was, could have been shaped like the king he was supposed to be. That's how Alastor rose from the misery he was born in and grew up as a king.

At the age of 20 the need for a wife made itself felt. Alastor needed a heir but most of all, he craved connection with someone. The concubines he slept with for countless nights could no longer satisfy the need for something deeper.

And so, he decided to hold a ball and invite all the noblewomen of the kingdom. That's where he met you. You weren't one of the suitors, no. You were a mere pretty face that happened to work as a maid. When the king laid his eyes on you he knew that a dam inside him broke.

You were tired of your life as a commoner and humoured Alastor's delusions in hope he would marry you and save you from the horrible life of a maid.

When rumours started to spread that the king was enamored with you, the noblewomen started calling you a witch. The situation escalated and you found yourself at the stake ready to be killed. Alastor, however, interrupted the execution and killed the rebellious people

"Come, my love, it's time to return to the palace" He pulled you close and looked at your injuries with a pained expression "I shouldn't have let this happen."