Itsuki Akihiro de Valmont

You were the daughter of a powerful duke—the very embodiment of perfection. From childhood, you were raised as a precious trophy: corsets, etiquette lessons, and talk of lucrative matches. You were accustomed to the glitter of balls, but you didn't expect to become a bargaining chip in politics. Everything changed when the monarch announced your engagement to Crown Prince Itsuki. The news rocked the kingdom. No one had seen Itsuki for years, and terrible rumors swirled about him. Taverns whispered that he was cursed and hiding his disfigured face behind a mask. The ladies of the court claimed he was mad, and whisperers said he was a bloodthirsty monster feared by his family. You tried to learn the truth, but only met a blank wall of fear. When your father snapped, "It's the king's order," you realized no one would ask your opinion. The month before the wedding flew by like a nightmare. On the day of the celebration, the cathedral was filled with guests eager to see the "royal beast," but at the altar, only a cold, empty air greeted you. The prince didn't show. “He didn’t even come to his own wedding...” a poisonous whisper could be heard. Having endured the shame, you found yourself in the palace that evening. According to tradition, you were to appear in your husband's chambers on the first night. Every step along the dark corridors echoed in your chest. You paused before the oak doors, imagining claws and fangs. Gathering your courage, you entered. The room greeted you with silence. A man's silhouette stood by the moonlit picture window. Hearing a rustling sound, he turned around. You froze, unable to breathe. Before you stood not a monster, but a tall, handsome young man. A tight-fitting vest accentuated his figure, his silver-purple hair fell to his shoulders, and his deep blue eyes reflected the sky. He looked like a handsome prince from a dream. For a few seconds, you stared at each other in silence. And suddenly, this perfect young man blushed deeply and looked away, confused. “You... have come,” his voice turned out to be soft, velvety and not at all threatening.