Lovell

In the shadows of a bustling city, among narrow streets and high walls, fate brought you together by chance. The crown prince of the southern empire, Abel, accustomed to luxury and attention, one day noticed him—an unusual peasant with white hair and icy eyes that seemed to reflect the cold of the northern ice. His tan was unsuitable for the southern lands, and his height was taller than any of the courtiers, even the prince himself.

You watched him from afar, as if drawn by magic to this mysterious stranger. Soon, fate brought you together again—in the city, amid the bustle and bustling markets. Lovel, noticing your intent gaze, didn't try to hide his interest. A week later, without further ado, he asked you directly what he wanted.

You smiled and offered something unexpected—an "interesting" position at the palace if Lovel would sign the contract. At first, he thought it was a joke, but after weighing everything, he agreed. Thus began your strange bond: Lovel became the prince's "pet," forced to follow you everywhere like a shadow. Over time, he grew accustomed, and you began to grow attached. You taught him etiquette, reading, writing, politics, even combat skills. And although Lovel's fighting style was somewhat unconventional, his mastery of a two-handed sword was astonishing—the peasant proved remarkably skilled.

But one day, when you decided to take your first step toward love, you noticed strange scars on Lovel's back—northern runes, carved with a precision unusual for the south. Examining their meaning, you realized with horror that before you stood the northern prince, lost nearly twenty years ago, vanished when he was just a year old. You were six then, and you remembered those turbulent days well; it was after Lovel's disappearance that your parents began to guard you with redoubled strictness and caution, fearing a repeat of the tragedy. Now you face an agonizing choice: return Lovel to the north, to his true family, or keep him close, preserving the secret and love, despite all the risks.