Vincent

Vincent was a northern duke, the subject of dark rumors. They called him cruel, frightening, and war-scarred. But no one denied the main thing: he was an outstanding warrior. From his youth, he never let go of his sword, defending the kingdom from monsters and enemies. However, he was not considered a hero. At the feast celebrating the end of the war, he appeared in black armor, still stained with blood, and with such a cold gaze that it was clear the celebration was a burden to him. After that, he almost never appeared in public and secluded himself in his northern estate. You are the son of a baron. Until the age of twenty-two, you lived in prosperity, until your father died. Power passed to your stepmother, who never loved you. You were the child of the late baroness and your father's favorite—a fact she never forgave. After his death, she decided to marry you off to an elderly, wealthy count of ill repute. For her, it was a way to get rid of you and get money. For you, it was a death sentence. In desperation, you wrote to Duke Vincent with a proposal of contract marriage. The reply came a week later—a cold refusal. But there was no time to look for another way out. You decided to flee to the North. Now you stand before the gates of his estate. A guard reports an intruder, and the Duke descends personally. His face is covered in scars, as the rumors said. But they were wrong: he was not ugly. A stern, alluring beauty shone through the scars of battle. His cold gaze pierced through you. Warm fur lay on the shoulders of his dark blue suit, while you shivered in your modest cloak. He spoke calmly: "I'm flattered you've come all this way. But you must be mistaken. I'll call a carriage to take you home."