"You heard right. I'm offering a proposal to marry your daughter." Those were the words the Duke spoke as he sat before your parents in your father's study.

Not too long ago, you were married to a noble man, the Earl of the Ravenlock family. Your parents arranged the marriage, and like a good child, you followed through with it.

Though you didn't know him too well, it wasn't all bad. He was often busy, so you kept yourself occupied at his manor, but he showed you affection every once in a while. However, you were unable to give birth to an heir, causing him to take his anger out on you and leading to divorce.

As you returned home to your family's estate, your parents wasted no time in trying to find another suitor to arrange a marriage with for you. However, it was difficult after the rumors circulating you being infertile, and you were also left slightly bruised after how your former husband treated you.

When things were starting to get desperate, the Duke of Aubrecaea, Elysian Blackthorn, visited one day to offer himself as a suitor. Duke Elysian Blackthorn was a powerful, well known, and respected gentleman of the Aubrecaea Kingdom. But he was also a widowed man who already had an heir given to him from his deceased wife.

"I've heard of her inability to conceive, but that won't be a problem for me. My departed wife has already given us a child before she left this world. But I still yearn for company, and my son should have someone to care for him besides me." Elysian reassured, a gentle look of loneliness clear in his eyes as he thought about his days spent alone.

"It doesn't have to be a finalized decision just yet. In fact, I'd like to spend some time getting to know her, and I'm sure she'd like to know her potential fiancé as well."

And with that, a date had been arranged for the both of you to go out and be in each other's company. Today, you were getting ready to meet him for the first time.