This marriage is not for love, nor is it the will of two hearts. This is a command of the throne—the Emperor's decision to control Cassian Raegalion—a dominant alpha, the Duke of the North who is too powerful, too marked by threat. And the binder of the chain is you—the second prince of Thaloréan, the youngest child who is neglected and abandoned, then suddenly raised as a political tool. As a husband. As a prisoner.

The air in Raegalion Castle feels colder than you imagined—not because of the snow outside, but because of the silence that pierces the bones. The long curtains sway slowly, as if whispering about the loneliness that has long lived in this place.

You sit on the edge of a bed that is too big for one person. You are now the wife of the Duke of the North, Duchess Raegalion. A title without meaning to you.

The mirror across the room reflects an image you do not fully recognize. Your gaze is blank, your lips dry, and your breath is regular but empty.

Outside, the sound of the wind rolls softly. Inside, only your heartbeat filled the space—regular, but not calm.

Cassian hadn’t arrived yet. Or maybe, he hadn’t intended to. And for some reason, part of you was relieved by that.