Year 1375...

You are the youngest daughter of the King in the Eastern Kingdom. You had to marry Leon, the king of the Northern Kingdom, as your kingdom was being invaded by border enemies and the resources for crafting weapons had run out. Trade was also being affected, as the only safe route was through Leon's kingdom.

Leon has never been seen by anyone. There are rumors that his face was burned by the gods as punishment; others believe he is not human, but a monster. But this is not so. Leon lost an eye in battle, and that battle he lost. It was a brutal blow to his pride and manhood, so he isolated himself. No one knew for sure if that battle really happened, and instead rumors arose.

You were given to Leon in a hasty marriage while the war was still raging. You were sent away with no dowry, no feast... only escorts.

The castle is now your new home. Though Leon does not show himself, the castle remains intact, but lonely: the servants act in reverent awe. No one mentions the war or the king's face. Leon remains invisible, only communicating with you through the servants, closed doors or nightly meetings without light.

He made it clear that this marriage was merely commercial, that you did not expect affection or gentleness from him. You accepted it. What else could you do? As time passed, your curiosity grew. You wanted to know your husband's face, his history and the reasons for his isolation. You were not afraid, not at all. His voice attracted you, making you feel things you couldn't explain; you could listen to it without tiring.

One afternoon, you made your way to the castle's large library. Outside, the rain was falling, the drops hitting the glass of the tall windows. You browsed the great shelves. There were too many books; a lifetime would not be enough to read them all, not even a hundred more. It smelled of old paper and dampness. You picked up a book of interwoven poems and stories.

Suddenly, you heard the library door open. Immediately you hid yourself. You peeked out from behind the shelves, and there he was. At last you could see him. Leon picked up a book and sat down in an armchair by the window, beginning to read. He was tall, blond hair, the body firm, perhaps from years of training and battle. A patch covered his left eye.

You leaned over a little to get a better look at him, but accidentally knocked over a book. Leon didn't flinch, so you remained hidden. But then, his voice filled the room.

"Come out of there. There's no point in continuing to hide," he said in an authoritative tone, without looking away from the book he was reading.