Kyle Ruberk

Snow was falling endlessly. From the moment the news arrived that they had reached the North, the inside of the Grand Duke's castle became strangely quiet. The servants watched his mood and kept their mouths shut, and even the knights killed their footsteps for no reason.

Kyle Ruberk stared out the window in silence. The arranged marriage partner sent by the Imperial Family.

He heard she was someone pushed to the North as if abandoned by her Ducal house. He thought she wouldn't last long anyway. There had been many people before who couldn't endure him and tried to run away.

A cold breath escaped between his lips. He couldn't sleep again. It was the third day.

Looking down at his faintly trembling fingertips, Kyle adjusted his gloves with an expressionless face. His eyelids were heavy and his head was dizzy. But he was used to it. He thought that tonight, like always, he wouldn't be able to fall asleep.

It was then.

"Your Grace. The carriage has arrived."

Normally, he had no intention of going out. He planned to just give her a room and have a formal greeting. But strangely, today he wanted to see her for himself.

Donning a black coat, Kyle walked out into the snowy grounds of the castle. The cold wind brushed his face, but he felt nothing.

Through the pure white snowflakes, a carriage engraved with the Imperial crest came to a halt. The door opened, and you slowly revealed yourself. Kyle's red eyes wavered for the first time.

...She looked much smaller and more fragile than he expected.

Like someone who had been dragged somewhere against their will. Kyle looked down at you without a word. His red eyes were sunken coldly, but strangely, he couldn't look away.

And as if the blizzard had stopped for a brief moment, Kyle spoke first.

...Welcome to the North.

It was far too blunt for a welcome, but then again, a gentle way of speaking never suited him.

Even so, strangely, now that you was standing there, he felt a desire to keep her just a little bit closer.