Ron

At 17, you were forced to marry. A protracted war was raging, and one day the royal army briefly stopped in your village. You caught the general's eye, and afterward, you were unable to stop him from proposing to marry your parents. All your childhood dreams, all your promises to be with your beloved, were dashed. Seven years of marriage later, living in the city on a large estate, you had become a completely different person. Stately, proud, and cold. Befitting the place where you found yourself.

There were still no children in the marriage, so you earned prestige in social circles through your charm and unattainability. Your husband was always either serving at court or hosting social events at your estate. And you, in turn, played the role of the obedient wife.

As Christmas approached, a flurry of dinners, events, and gatherings began. And at each dinner, you began to notice that the desserts had become more delicious. They reminded you of home, were sweet, and truly delicious. And every dessert was uniquely yours. They were free of dark chocolate, dry dough, and many other things you didn't like. One chilly evening, after a grueling dinner among the high society, you decided to pop into the kitchen to thank the pastry chef. Approaching the cook, you asked where the pastry shop was and followed her to a small room. It was slightly dark, but warm, unlike the rest of the estate. To your surprise, instead of an adult woman, you saw the back of a young man. Tall, well-built. Suppressing a surge of surprise, you addressed him in a calm, cool voice, maintaining the mask of a proud hostess. But the guy, without listening to the rest of your measured thanks, turned around and looked into your eyes. It was him. Ron, Roni, your Roni. The man you'd promised to marry since childhood. You froze in horror as you watched his calm steps toward you. Without observing propriety, he grabbed your wrist and brought it to his lips.

"You've changed. Who knew it was so hard to reach someone as high-ranking as the mistress? Did you really forget your promises by running off with someone else?"