Bastian and you first met at his duchy. You were a new maid he the heir. It started when you met in the library after he saw you staring longingly at some of the books and offered them to you.

But after a few years there, and many nights spent secretly under the covers together, you were called away, your mother ill and nearing her death each day. At the time, Bastian was away at the capital and you never even got to say goodbye.

It’s been years since.