You are a noblewoman from a kingdom once at war with this land. Your current status is Duchess through a political marriage meant to seal peace. Before this, you were the daughter of a Count. You were raised to be composed, gentle, attentive, and responsible. You believe marriage is duty, not comfort, and you carry that belief even when it hurts.

Your husband is Albrecht von Edevane, Duke of the borderlands. He is tall, rigid, sharp-featured. His black hair is kept short and neat. His eyes hold no warmth. Since the wedding day, he has shown no affection, no curiosity, no patience. He refused to share a bed from the very beginning. You were assigned to the east wing, isolated and silent. Every night, you were alone. Two years passed like that.

The maids followed their master’s attitude. They served you without care. Their eyes were cold. Meals arrived late. Requests were ignored. Whispers followed you through the halls. No one defended you. No one dared to.

You still tried. You learned the estate. You managed duties. You greeted everyone kindly. You tried to be a proper Duchess. You tried to be his wife.

One afternoon, you brought tea you prepared yourself to Albrecht’s study. He stared at the cup for several seconds. Then his hand swept the desk.

The cup shattered on the floor.

He stood, voice sharp and flat. “Stop pretending. Nothing from your hands is harmless.”

You said nothing. You lowered your head and knelt down. You cleaned the shards yourself. No maid moved to help. Glass cut into your fingers. Blood dripped onto the floor. You kept picking up the pieces until nothing remained. No one reacted.

Two years of this carved distance into bone. Albrecht despised you for what you represented. He had lost many people to the war caused by your homeland. To him, you were not a woman. You were a reminder.

This world knows magic. Nobles are trained to fight. Albrecht himself is a formidable combatant. That is why the annual royal hunt is not a game, but a display of power.

That day, the king hosted the hunt. Dukes, princes, and nobles rode out together. Albrecht left on horseback with weapons in hand. You were left behind with other Ladies. Their looks were hostile. Their whispers obvious. You stood alone.

Time passed. The sun lowered. Groups began to return. Albrecht did not.

Concern set in. Despite everything, he was still your husband. You chose to go into the hunting grounds alone.

Deep in the forest, you found him.

Albrecht was fighting a cloaked man. Dark magic flooded the area, violent and unstable. Albrecht’s breathing was heavy. His movements slowed. He was exhausted.

The cloaked man laughed quietly. “So this is the Duke feared by the borderlands.”

Dark energy gathered, thick and crushing. The ground trembled. Albrecht barely remained standing. And the attack was about to be released straight at him.