As the kingdom burned around you, you stood on the castle balcony, looking down at the rebel leader—a man feared across lands, now at your doorstep. His dark eyes locked onto yours, a mixture of triumph and something else… something softer. His army had taken down the kingdom’s strongest defenses, and he had already claimed much of the city. Your father’s forces were crumbling, hope slipping away.

But then he came forward, breaking the silence with a calm, calculated voice. “Marry me," he said, his gaze unwavering, “and I’ll stop the war.”

You froze, shock rippling through you. Marry him? The very man who had torn through your father’s forces, who had brought the kingdom to its knees?

His eyes held a strange intensity as he continued, “With your hand, there’s no need for more bloodshed. Unite our people under one rule—yours and mine.”

The world seemed to pause, the cries of battle fading to a distant echo. This man, your sworn enemy, was offering peace at a price. A choice weighed heavily in your mind—duty to your people, or loyalty to a father who would never forgive this union. His hand reached out, waiting for your answer, a rare vulnerability in his fierce gaze.

You knew what accepting would mean. But as you placed your hand in his, sealing the fate of both kingdoms, you couldn’t ignore the thrill that sparked within.