Chapter 1
The kingdom where winter was born had been a subjugated kingdom of the Empire for more than 100 years.
The northern part of the kingdom was originally barren and difficult to farm. There were a lot of monsters, and many died because of the long winters.
So, the people of the kingdom took up swords, regardless of who they were. Instead of embroidering, women learned to sew leather. They learned medicine as if memorizing old songs.
When the long winters came, they shared food and hunted monsters who were attracted by their fires.
And that’s where she lived.
A place where you had to cut off your frozen hands and feet in order to survive.
At the end of such a winter, a guest visited the palace. A great name that wasn’t a fit for this kingdom at all.
Grand Duke Morte, the great conqueror of the Empire.
His visit not only turned the capital upside down, but also the estate where she lived.
“Why did he come here?”
“Is he going to destroy us?”
“Or, is he going to kill the king and crown himself?”
Listening to the stories of the people, she continued to sharpen her sword.
‘Whatever his purpose, it has nothing to do with me.’
‘This will not change anything for me.’
“Your Majesty.”
But now, she was in front of ‘Walking Death’.
“Come here, young lady.”
She awkwardly raised the hem of her skirt in a curtsy, and looked at the king who had summoned her. He looked old and weak.
So the man sitting to his right stood out even more.
‘Walking Death. Victor Morte.’
He was a beautiful man, which didn’t fit his name. He had a tall stature, broad shoulders, fine facial features and slightly tanned skin. It all looked more splendid in contrast to the pale faces of the palace.
Although it was evident that he was tired from a long journey, the sense of intimidation emanating from him showed clearly why he was a notorious knight across the continent.
She bowed her head again. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out why she was summoned.
She wasn’t a well known woman in the social world.
She was just a small aristocrat in the region. And she had never worn a dress like this in her life.
She heard the king introduce her.
“This young lady is the best knight in our kingdom.”
‘What?’
She raised her head for a moment.
‘He’s looking for knights? Is the Grand Duke here to recruit soldiers?’
The Grand Duke looked at her without a word. His sharp gaze swept over her, up and down.
“Do you know how to use a sword?” He asked her in a very sweet voice.
Without knowing how to answer, she clutched the hem of her skirt. She didn’t know how to explain to him that her swordsmanship was regarded as the best on the continent.
So, she said as much as she knew for sure.
“I know how to protect myself.”
His sunken eyes stared intently at her. They fluttered in the torch light.
“What is your name?”
“Amarion Amari, Your Majesty.”
“Victor Morte. I have a suggestion for you.”
He got up slowly. His black robes followed behind him like death waves as he approached. It looked like dark water was rising in the throne room.
He extended his hand towards her, “Will you marry me? I will give you the highest position for a lady in the Empire.”
‘What?’
She felt as though she had been hit on the head.
He made a proposal.
‘Grand Duke Morte, to me…’
***
There were reasons for rejecting his proposal.
Winter was not over yet, so there were many pending things she had to complete after returning to her estate.
And most importantly, she didn’t know him.
But the moment he uttered those words, she had no choice.
He was a mighty imperial nobleman and she was only a count’s daughter from a vassal country.
There was a huge difference in their status.
‘The difference between him and I…’
She couldn’t turn down his proposal.
In addition, the huge dowry he would pay…
With that money, their terribly barren estate would be able to spend several winters without much difficulty.
Compared to the lives that would be saved, sacrificing herself was a small price to pay.
Even if she had to walk into the grasp of death.
Her life span had been determined by the weaver of fate*, so it wouldn’t make a difference if she were to accept his proposal.
[*E/N: The Fates shape the destiny of each human, often expressed in textile metaphors such as spinning fibers into yarn, or weaving threads on a loom.]
She reached out her bruised hand to grab his.
“I will accept your proposal, Grand Duke.”
***
Winter in the kingdom was bitter. The wind that blew through the window was enough to freeze the wine in the room. The Grand Duke didn’t seem to want to stay in a place like this any longer. As soon as the formal marriage vows were completed in the palace, a procession was organized to travel to the Empire.
The Grand Duke spoke in a hurry.
“Let’s leave. Bring anything terribly important. You can return later.”
She didn’t have anything to say, so she just got into the wagon. She had nothing to bring with her. She didn’t have a maid or belongings; she had nothing.
They departed early in the morning. The procession leaving the capital was as quiet as a funeral ceremony.
She stared blankly out the window.
She didn’t even have anyone to bid farewell to. It was so sudden that her parents couldn’t attend, and she didn’t know anyone in the capital.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned against the cold window.
She thought she would be fine, as her estate could spend a few more years of winter comfortably with the dowry she received.
But the wedding procession and her wedding dress were a horror that she had never experienced before.
The sound of horses neighing and knights’ armor clinking could be heard. The Grand Duke, who was in the leading carriage, gave the signal.
“Let’s go.”
At his signal, the procession began to move.
‘And that’s how I left for the Empire.’
* * *
The trip was not going to be difficult.
Her kingdom and the Empire bordered each other, so it was not a long journey. Moreover, the capital of the kingdom was located in the southernmost part of the kingdom, which was close to the border.
Even this carriage was more cozy than any home she had ever stayed in.
‘It’s made of wood and it’s moving…’
She couldn’t figure out how it was so warm inside. No cold could be felt anywhere.
She didn’t talk to anyone along the way. The knights were courteous, but they tried to not mingle with her as much as possible, and her new husband, the Grand Duke, rode in another wagon the entire journey, making it difficult to see his face.
Even at the inns they stayed in, she roomed by herself.
It was good, but it was weird.
She was prepared to spend the night with him in a shabby inn, because he paid a generous dowry to take her.
But he was nowhere to be seen, neither in her room nor in the inn.
The next day, while having breakfast, she asked the knights.
“Where did he sleep? The Grand Duke.”
The knights answered with difficulty.
“He slept in another room.”
‘But I haven’t seen him in the inn anywhere?’
Suddenly, rumors about the ‘Grand Duke of Death’ flashed through her mind. That he was a vampire, a demon, or a similar monster. She had killed monsters all her life and was convinced that there was no such thing, but she also thought that he was compatible with them. With a body as hard as a zelkova tree, thick shoulders, and tanned skin like a southerner. The trip continued smoothly despite her questions.
On the way to the Empire, the party split in two, with most knights returning to the Morte estate, and a handful of knights and two wagons heading to the Capital. She could see the Imperial Capital through her curtained window.
The Capital was dazzlingly colorful. From the magnificently built walls, roads paved with beautiful white stones, to the energetic people. As a country girl who had never been to such a place, she opened her mouth in awe and watched it all.
And the mansion of the Grand Duke of the Capital, well, she had never seen such a beautiful house. It had walls lined with white marble and carved with beautiful reliefs, and beautiful decorative windows. If she wanted to buy even half of this mansion, it was clear that she would have to sell the entire Amari estate.
She got off the carriage and followed the Grand Duke into the mansion.
The inside of the mansion was more splendid than the palace of her home kingdom. The high ceiling was decorated with patterned tiles, and on the soft carpet, incredibly expensive furniture was meticulously placed.
The butler and servants bowed their heads to greet her.
“Welcome, Grand Duchess.”
It was an unfamiliar title.
As if they had already received orders, the maids and servants opened the wagon door and brought in her luggage. She wanted to say that there was not much there, and that it was nice to meet them, but the Grand Duke strode into the mansion without saying a word.
She didn’t know what to say, so she had no choice but to walk alongside him.