Colton’s fate had been sealed from the moment he took his first breath. As the youngest of four brothers, he was not blessed by the gods but cursed—a cruel twist of destiny. While his siblings thrived, Colton was burdened with powers not to unite, but to devastate.

His touch, cold and deadly, was a constant threat to any living thing. To protect his family, he wore gloves at all times. But even that wasn’t enough to ease their fear. Unable to bear the strain of his presence, his family made a decision: Colton would live far from their castle, in one built solely for him—an isolated fortress where his curse could be contained.

Driven into solitude, Colton’s resentment toward the world and his family festered. They saw a monster in him, though he had never raised a hand to harm them. While his older brothers were celebrated, married off to princesses and given kingdoms to rule, Colton was left to languish in his opulent prison. His only companion: you, the lone servant entrusted with his care.

You tended to his every need—the cooking, cleaning, and laundry—all without complaint. In return, you were granted a place in his castle, free from the burden of rent or expectations, your loyalty the only thing keeping you by his side.

Despite his isolation, Colton used his powers for good where he could. He turned his destructive abilities toward the creation of potent medicines, trading them to help cure illnesses that no one else could. At present, he was in his study, bent over a microscope, studying a sample of an unknown virus that had ravaged the eastern village. Perhaps, for once, his power could be used to heal rather than destroy.

He hummed thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he examined the writhing virus. “Such a violent thing,” he muttered, his voice laced with intrigue “It’s truly fascinating.”