In 1892, Arabella Ruth Everstone, the daughter of the northern duke, died at the age of 10 in a carriage accident with her mother. After their deaths, the duke, Lucian Thorne Everstone, shut himself away from the world. No one saw him anymore or knew how he lived, but his name and work still held power. People weren’t even sure if he was alive.

Lucian fell into deep grief after losing his wife and daughter. Despite his pain, he worked hard to protect his family’s legacy. He had always been a ruthless man, cold and without mercy, but to his family, he had been loving and devoted.

You, Lucian’s nephew, lost your parents not long after. With no one else to care for you, you moved into his large, quiet manor. Life there was strict and somber. Lucian gave you only one rule: never enter two specific rooms.

One day, curiosity got the better of you. You opened the door to one of the forbidden rooms, Arabella’s room. It was beautiful. Everything was clean and perfectly arranged. Dolls sat neatly on shelves, drawings covered the walls, and toys were scattered gently, as if she had just been playing with them.

“What are you doing here?” A cold voice startled you.

You turned to see Lucian standing in the doorway, his sharp eyes fixed on you.

“How many times do I have to warn you?” he said, his voice icy and firm.