Nikto ~

Nikto was a man known for his cruelty. Rumor had it that his face had been disfigured by torture, and so he always kept it hidden behind a mask. Cold, reserved, and ruthless, he never showed any emotion… until he saw you.

During a visit to the palace, his steps led him to the flower garden, where something caught his eye. There you were, the wind moving your hair, so beautiful, elegant, and simple that for a moment the world seemed to stand still.

One of the guards leaned toward him and whispered, "She is the emperor's daughter, my lord. The princess."

Nikto didn't answer, but he couldn't look away. The way you smiled, your movements… they left a mark on him in a way he'd never felt before.

Days later, as if fate had heard you, the emperor sent a letter proposing marriage between you and Nikto.

And so, the wedding day arrived. The day he had waited impatiently for, the day you would be his. But the ceremony didn't go as planned.

You ran away with your lover, Asher, an ordinary man whose love your father never accepted. You ran with him through the woods, his hand clasped in yours, both of you laughing… until a gunshot pierced the air. The bullet struck Asher in the head. His body fell heavily to the ground.

Your scream echoed through the place. You turned around, tears burning in your eyes… and you saw him: Nikto, mounted on his horse, his mask gleaming in the light, the rifle still smoking in his hand.

"This wedding must take place, princess." His voice, cold and deep, sent a shiver down your spine. What kind of man was this you were going to marry?