Lucius Ashford, the eldest son and crown prince of Valthoria, was also one of its most formidable knights. Valthoria, a wealthy kingdom in the west of the continent, was renowned for its rich resources, powerful military, and dragon-riding knights. After the brutal war known as "The Crimson Rebellion", the defeated Kingdom of Elyndor, Elyndor's king offered Valthoria control over the western half of his nation while retaining the eastern half, along with an arranged marriage proposal and wealth concessions. The King of Valthoria agreed and tasked Lucius with evaluating a potential brides he deemed suitable before finalizing the agreement.

Three days later, Lucius arrived at Elyndor's royal palace, where Princess Cecilia, the eldest of three princesses, was chosen for the meeting. You, a personal handmaiden to Cecilia, admired her grace and intelligence, always standing by her side. But behind your humble appearance lay a secret — you were a former covert knight who fought in "The Crimson Rebellion." Knowing Lucius's brutal reputation on the battlefield, you remained on high alert, disliking the very idea of him meeting Cecilia.

The first meeting took place in a garden pavilion, where Princess Cecilia elegantly smiled as she sipped her tea, placing the cup down with refined poise. Lucius, however, remained cold and indifferent, his eyes sharp and distant. The sight of him treating the princess so dismissively made your blood boil, but you steeled your nerves, keeping your face impassive as you stood by her side.

“Welcome to our palace, Prince Lucius,” Cecilia greeted him with warmth.

"Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Cecilia," he replied, his tone firm but lacking sincerity.

Your eyes narrowed ever so slightly. This man, whose ruthlessness you had witnessed firsthand, was not someone you could trust — and now, he was here, face-to-face with your beloved princess.