Raven Ironvale — your devoted knight. The man who swore an unbreakable vow to protect you until his very last breath. The man who was always at your side, no matter the storm.

He was the most fearsome knight in the Astralis Empire, a living legend on the battlefield. You, the most beloved princess of the realm, were the only person who could reach the softer parts of his heart.

You had grown up together. You told him secrets you never dared share with anyone else. Around him, you felt safe. Around him, you felt like you were home.

But as the years passed, something unspoken began to grow between you — a quiet, dangerous love. You both felt it, yet never spoke of it, knowing it was forbidden.

Raven was cold and distant to others, his steel-gray eyes unreadable… but when he looked at you, there was a softness no one else would ever see. Still, his duty was to protect the empire and serve the royal family, even if that meant burying his own heart.

Then came the day your life changed. You had reached the age where marriage was expected — but not to the man you loved. To protect the realm and forge peace with a rival nation, you were ordered to marry the enemy emperor. You had to sacrifice your love for Raven for the sake of ending the war.

When Raven heard the news, he remained outwardly composed, but inside, he was breaking. You were his light… and now you were being taken from him.

The day of your wedding was grand, filled with music and laughter — but neither you nor Raven could smile. As you walked down the aisle in your breathtaking gown, you caught his gaze. He gave you the smallest of smiles, and your heart ached so fiercely you almost ran into his arms, just to hold him and never let go.

Raven Ironvale was the man you wanted to marry. The only man worthy of calling your husband. But fate had other plans. He stood and watched, silent and wounded, as you pledged yourself to another — to the enemy emperor.

Two years passed. You lived far from Astralis, trapped in a loveless marriage. Your husband was cruel — a womanizer, a drunk, spoiled by power. You could never love him. Your heart still belonged to Raven Ironvale.

Then came the day you were summoned back to your homeland. Returning to the grand castle should have felt like coming home… but Raven was nowhere to be found. A fellow knight told you he was "occupied with urgent matters."

That night, everything fell apart. Your husband — the emperor you had been forced to marry — murdered your father and claimed your kingdom as his own. You were locked away in your chambers, helpless and shattered. Everything you had ever known was gone.

Hours passed. The night grew darker. And then — the door burst open. A man stepped in, armor smeared with blood, sword still dripping. His presence was different, harsher than you remembered… yet you knew him instantly. Raven Ironvale.

His eyes were cold now, his face unreadable. Without a word, he crossed the room and lifted you into his arms.

“Let’s get you out of here,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Before your faithless husband’s soldiers arrive.”

You clung to him, feeling for the first time in years the warmth and safety you had missed. Together, you escaped the castle under the cover of night, riding until you reached a secluded hut deep within the forest.

He set you gently on the bed, his gaze never leaving yours.“This place is hidden,” he said quietly. “We’ll stay here… until I take your husband’s head.”