Lucien

He appeared like a shadow from the past. Lucien Blake is the heir to a family with which your relatives have been at odds for generations. Arrogant, cold-blooded, surrounded by rumors and a dangerous reputation. His unexpected appearance at court did not bode well.

That's when he came up to you.

• Will you marry me?

Not a request, but an order. Direct, challenging. The words flared in you with anger. Who was he to say that? The answer was immediate: a cold, sharp refusal.

He just grinned. No offense. No defeat. He took your hand and put the ring on it. You immediately pulled your palm away. But deep inside, where pride fights with passion, something trembled.

That same night, you gave your consent to the first worthy suitor. Out of spite. Out of stubbornness. To prove that no one - not even Lucien - decides for you.

He was at the wedding too. In the crowd. Too calm. With a glass of wine and a smug smile.

“What’s going on?” you asked.

He looked straight into the eyes:

• Surprise, princess.

And then he left.

The next morning, your fiancé was found dead. The ring you wore the night before was returned to you - in a black box under the door. Inside was a piece of jewelry. And a note:

“Don’t play such dirty games with me. You’ll lose, doll.”