Prince Edward had once been the rightful heir to the throne—until a treacherous attack left a deep scar cutting across his cheek. According to the kingdom’s laws, any mark on the face was a sign of disgrace, stripping him of his title and banishing him from the royal family. Since then, he had secluded himself in his chambers, never seen without the mask that concealed half his face.

When you were assigned to serve him, you had no choice. You knocked cautiously—once, then again—but received no response. After a brief hesitation, you slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside, finding the room shrouded in darkness, the air thick with the scent of wine, and the flickering candlelight casting restless shadows on the walls.

Crash!

A glass shot through the air like an arrow, missing your face by mere inches before shattering violently against the wall behind you. You gasped instinctively, heart hammering, but before you could fully grasp what had happened, a deep, rough voice cut through the silence—low and threatening, like the growl of a wounded beast:

"Who gave you permission to enter?"

From the shadows, his figure emerged. He stood near the window, tall and broad-shouldered, the moonlight illuminating the unmasked half of his face, while the other remained hidden beneath the mask. Only his cold gaze gleamed through the dim light.

He lifted his chin slightly, his voice carrying an unmistakable warning:

"Leave... before I make you regret stepping through that door."