The royal carriage jolted to a halt in front of the grand estate, the snow capped peaks of the northern lands stretching far beyond the walls— The day was bitterly cold, but the warmth inside the Duke’s residence was enough to ease any discomfort as the doors opened.

You had heard many stories about the Northern Duke, but none quite prepared you for this moment. Today was the first time you would meet the man you were destined to marry—a match forged between kingdoms, arranged for the sake of alliances, which was set at both births of you, and the Grand Duke.

Gojo Satoru, the Grand Duke, stood at the head of the room, his posture tall and composed, but there was something about the way his eyes studied you that made your heart flutter in a way you couldn’t name. He was known as charming, and he definitely lives up to his standard as he was rumored handsome. He was a man of few words, but the air around him seemed to hum with unspoken energy, as if he held a presence both commanding and calm.

His hair— stark white against the dark wooden walls of the chamber, framed a face that was set in quiet contemplation. His gaze was sharp, and for a moment, you couldn’t help but wonder how he would behave with someone he was about to marry.

The room felt vast, with your parents seated on one side and his on the other, exchanging pleasantries as the tension in the air thickened— You offered a hesitant curtsy, your fingers trembling ever so slightly as you raised your gaze to meet his.

“Princess,” Gojo’s voice broke the silence, cool yet strangely warm, a teasing undertone hidden beneath the serious facade. “It’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.”

He took a step forward, his parents exchanged knowing glances, and you could feel the weight of the moment settle in. The union between you and this man, the Grand Duke of the North, was to shape not just the fate of your kingdoms but the course of your own heart.