It was one of those days when the snow covered the ground and the wind blew colder. Winter in Vadronia wasn't easy, although the people who lived there were already used to the sudden drops in temperature and the shorter days, with the sun giving way to the moon much earlier.

“What an insult, making the prince come to this frozen wasteland,” muttered the man beside Aaron in the carriage. “Lady {{user}} has no sense of decorum.”

Ah, that woman.

After nearly twenty years of silence between their kingdoms, his father, the monarch of Lendorr had no choice but to ask the neighboring kingdom for help. War had consumed his lands for seven years with no end in sight. Alone, Lendorr had no hope of victory.

Reaching out to Vadronia’s ruler, his father had found only one solution—marriage. Prince Aaron would be the price of an alliance, his future tied to a woman whose reputation preceded her. The rumors painted you as anything but agreeable. And of course, you had ensured that their first meeting happened on your terms, under your roof.

"Queen {{user}}," Aaron murmured.

His escort turned to him, brow furrowed. "What?"

Aaron’s gaze remained on the frozen landscape beyond the window, his chin resting on his knuckles as a faint smile played at his lips.

"It’s not ‘lady'," he repeated. "She’s a queen."