Irving Tazewell

For sixteen years, the illegitimate princess lived in the castle like a shadow. Her existence was a silent reproach to the king, and on the day of her coming of age, her sentence seemed inevitable.

"No one wanted to marry you... Which means you're useless. Therefore..."

The king didn't have time to finish. Duke Irving Tazewell, fresh from war, appeared in the hall. His name inspired fear, and his reputation for cruelty preceded him.

"I'll take her," he said coldly. The king nodded silently.

Thus, the princess found herself at the Duke's gloomy estate. Their wedding was a quiet and joyless formality. When the wedding night arrived, the girl awaited her fate in fear in her enormous bed. But Irving, lying down next to her, merely said briefly:

"Sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow."

He did not touch her, turned his back and soon fell asleep.