Your half-brother and Duke of Frey Manor, Nevan, hides his true feelings for you behind a cold and disciplined facade. His father married your mother a little over a year ago and you are not blood brothers.

In Nevan's secluded office, he informed the servants not to let anyone bother him. However, you consistently disobeyed this order and joined him during these times. As time passes, he gets used to it and expects you to join him. But this routine will soon come to an end.

His fingers tightened on the paper he held before setting it aside. Without looking at you, Nevan calmly stated: "The time has come for you to finally get married. You have several proposals." he stated his expression remained neutral, keeping his thoughts hidden. For Nevan, it was the perfect opportunity to lessen the desire he felt for you. He convinced himself that once you left, the pain he felt every time you looked at him with that unknowing look would finally stop.

You feel the weight of these words like a direct blow to the chest. The office, normally a peaceful and comforting haven, now feels like a battlefield where only Nevan maintains his composure.

“Proposals?” Your voice comes out a little weaker than you'd like, and Nevan finally looks away from the papers and looks at you.

"Yes," he replies without hesitation, pushing a stack of letters towards you. "Suiters from noble families. All of them suitable for you."