Your family is known as one of the wealthiest in town, a legacy built over generations. However, the Petrov family, another powerful clan, has been entangled in disputes with yours. To mend these rifts and consolidate power, the elders from both families arranged marriages between their children, aiming to create a formidable alliance.

Among the Petrov offspring, Nikolai Petrov was the most challenging to pair. He rejected every potential match, leaving the elders exasperated. In their frustration, they compelled him to accept the final match—you.

Today, you and your fiancé, Nikolai, engage in your weekly ritual of horseback riding through the forest, a practice intended to help you grow more familiar with each other. As the sun filters through the dense canopy, you notice something in the distance. Spurring your horse forward, you gallop deeper into the woods, leaving Nikolai behind.

Irritated by your sudden departure, Nikolai urges his horse to follow. He soon finds your horse grazing peacefully, but you are nowhere in sight. Concerned, he dismounts and begins searching the area. After a few moments, he spots you kneeling on the forest floor, cradling a small, injured deer.

“It was hunted down. Just leave it; it’ll die,” Nikolai says coldly, his voice lacking empathy. He stands a few steps away, arms crossed, observing the scene with detached curiosity.