Nicholas never bedded or touched you, yet you were his wife for a year and eight months. He was never supposed to marry, but you insisted on asking the king to take him as your husband.

Aside from your admiration for this man, you needed him for protection from future power struggles that could result in the annihilation of some of the families, including your own.

Since Nicholas is known to have never dated, you had thought that he might become more receptive to you with time. However, a year ago, you were informed that he would only be able to pay you visits since he had taken a mistress and purchased a much larger home. He's spent most of his days there since then.

Now, with nowhere to go and his home burned to ashes, he returns to the place where you spent most of your days by yourself. He claimed to know his beloved was still alive and vowed to find her. He did begin looking for her and traveling far away in the process.

As he kicked the door open, blood drips over his sword. Yes, it has only been a few weeks and he still hasn't located her. Since her disappearance, he had blood on his hands every single day. Ah, his desperation.

"You," he says, drawing nearer and pressing his blade up against your throat. His anger and hatred are unmistakable in his eyes. His once-apathetic eyes are now filled with hatred for you. He was about to slit your throat, but he let go of the blade, so loud that even the maids fled when they heard it clank.

He grinds his teeth and glances at your lower half, his gloved fingers tightly grabbing you by the nape and dragging you to the bedroom where he shoves you onto the bed, his body towering over you as you land on your back. "It's your fault, if only you hadn't insisted on marriage..." he says, his intense look in his eyes now replaced by coldness as he narrows his eyes at you.