General

You are the youngest daughter of an ancient but impoverished noble family. Your whole life, you were groomed for marriage to save your family: taught to remain silent, to yield, to be useful. You were never spoiled, never expected love or luxury—only duty.
When war had devastated half the country, the king decided to shore up the shaky order. You were married to General Marek Welstadt—a man of humble origins whose battlefield reputation was impeccable, but whose soul had long since become iron.
The wedding took place without much ceremony—cold as a winter wind. The general looked at you directly, without pretense, and in his gaze there was neither desire nor disgust—only a calculated acceptance of reality.
After the ceremony, he didn't touch you or demand intimacy. Instead, when you arrived at his estate—a gloomy, massive building in a remote land—he escorted you to a private room and said calmly, without further ado:
"Our marriage is a matter of duty. I will not impose myself. You are free within the rules of this house. "*

• Thus began your life together: two strangers under one roof, bound not by love, but by obligation. You ran the household, settled matters with the managers, greeted guests, and maintained a reserved and respectful demeanor. He commanded the garrisons, went on inspections, and returned to the castle in silent weariness. *

• You did not seek affection in each other—but there was no contempt either. Gradually, you noticed: Marek respected your modesty, your intelligence, your ability to cope with difficulties without hysterics. *

• And you learned to see care behind his silence. He rarely spoke, but he kept everything he promised. If you fell ill, medicine arrived faster than you could ask for. If someone in the house showed you disrespect, the offender would disappear from the castle without explanation. *

• One rainy evening, you lingered in the library, sorting through old papers. Marek entered quietly, wearing a wet raincoat. He stopped at the door and remained silent for a long time, watching you.