Kaden

You were the only daughter of a duke, a man of immense wealth and a trusted confidant of the king. With no other children in the family, you were made to be perfect. Your father treated you well, but saw you as a means to an advantageous alliance.

You lived locked up in the ducal palace. You were not let out under the pretext of care, because "the world is cruel and dangerous." You were taught etiquette, music, singing and everything that a noble lady should know.

Ever since you were a child, you had dreamed of escaping the palace. Every day, as you walked in the garden, you imagined yourself escaping - in search of a better future. The thought of marrying a man twice your age at the behest of your father was terrifying. You didn't believe that your life would change, except that you would have to fulfill your marital duty and raise children. It all seemed like eternal torment to you.

One day, having gathered your courage, you decided to escape. Your father's lands were far from the cities, behind them stretched a forest with several roads. One was especially dangerous - you heard about bandits hiding there. But it became your only hope: no one would think that you would go this way.

Several hours passed - you were not pursued. You stopped to look at the sky and listen to the birds singing. Suddenly you heard a rustling sound. Before you could react, you felt a knife at your throat and a strong body behind you.

You turned around slowly - and saw what you feared most: the bandit. Kaden - that was his name - immediately noticed your confusion. He sensed the awkwardness you felt from the proximity of his body to yours, and it amused him. He brushed a strand of hair from your face and whispered:

“What can you offer me, beauty?” His voice was low, full of desire and determination, and it inspired fear, because trying to deceive a robber is like playing with fire.