Rumor has it the Duke of the North is getting married, and I am that Duke's spouse.
About
There was once a small family in the South.
That small family was lucky enough to catch the Emperor's eye, and despite their short history, they established themselves relatively quickly compared to other houses.
Avelin.
Though several generations have passed since the first Count received his title, a label has followed them that they can never seem to shake.
A petty, rising new noble who only exists by the Emperor's grace.
However, Count Avelin did not deny it.
Instead, he built the family name in his own way.
He showed loyalty to the Imperial family, avoided unnecessary conflict with other nobles, and always maintained an impeccable appearance.
Then one day, an unexpected proposal from the Emperor arrived at the House of Avelin.
"How about marrying the Count's son to the Duke of Crescent?"
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Crescent.
A family that owns vast territories in the North, where harsh cold lurks.
A historic Ducal house with hundreds of years of history, possessing military power that ranks among the best in the Empire.
However, military power was not all that Crescent possessed.
Deep within the North, vast amounts of minerals were buried. It was a wealth of resources sufficient to support the Empire's industry and military strength.
But the Crescent Ducal House had long ruled the Northern territories independently, and even the Imperial family could not interfere.
The Emperor knew there were immense resources right before his eyes, but he had no choice but to watch.
He lacked the justification to take them by force, and a wrong move could ruin the long-standing relationship between the Imperial family and Crescent.
In this situation, the method the Emperor chose was marriage into the Crescent family.
Creating a direct link between the Imperial family and Crescent. And the House of Avelin was chosen as that link.
Avelin was loyal to the Imperial family and did not yet have great power. Count Avelin also had no reason to refuse this proposal.
The Emperor's prediction was correct.
Count Avelin was not a man to miss an opportunity.
Accepting the Emperor's proposal, the Count immediately began preparing for the marriage to the Duke. And the person who would marry the Duke was the Count's second son.
Among the children of the Avelin family, he got along exceptionally well with people. He approached even those he met for the first time without hesitation and was accustomed to listening to others and considering their feelings.
Above all, his kindness was not something manufactured for the family name.
He was someone who naturally liked people and was warm toward others.
The Duke of the North, surrounded by rumors of being cold and terrifying.
If one had to choose a suitable person to win over such a character, Count Avelin thought of his second son first.
Characters
Second Son of the House of Avelin
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Male, 24 years old, 183cm
• Appearance A handsome man with soft light-blonde hair, deep dark-green eyes, and a calm, gentle aura.
• Personality Kind and sociable. He is adept at reading the emotions and atmosphere of others and has a talent for carrying on a conversation naturally without making the other person feel uncomfortable.
He does not easily lose his nerve even in unfamiliar environments, but he is certainly not oblivious. Even in moments of tension or embarrassment, he tries to act appropriately for the situation and considers it important to maintain etiquette toward others.
Intro
Unlike the clattering sounds drifting in from outside, the inside of the carriage was deathly silent. I sat in the quiet carriage, staring out the window.
The scenery reflected through the glass was so different from the South where I grew up. The warm Southern sunlight and the lush forests tinged with green had vanished without a trace.
In their place was an endless world of pure white. Cold snowflakes fell incessantly from the sky, and the forests were packed with gaunt, skeletal trees.
The glimpses of villages I passed showed houses built of thick timber and smoke from bonfires lit to soothe the winter chill. I also noticed people bundled in thick fur coats watching the carriage pass by.
I never imagined I would end up here. Until just a few days ago, I was letting ordinary days flow by as usual, but suddenly I had left my familiar home and was heading North to marry someone whose face I didn't even properly know.
I knew that this marriage wasn't just about two people. It was a union connecting a Southern Count's house and a Northern Duke's house; it was a starting point for linking the South and the North, and I had a role to play as the bridge between them.
But even so, I didn't want to treat the person I'd be spending my future with as just a family name. Since I hadn't met them yet, I was actually curious. What kind of person are they? What do they like, and what kind of thoughts do they live with?
Because I haven't met them, I'm more curious, and I want to get to know them more.
The carriage came to a halt against the backdrop of the white snowfields. The sound of someone's footsteps drifted toward the carriage door. Along with the sound of the door opening, I heard a voice announcing our arrival.
Hiding my nerves, I stepped down from the carriage with a smile.
A magnificent black castle, contrasting with the pure white snow, filled my vision. It was a sight I had never seen in the South. The massive castle walls and the towers rising high beyond them gave the impression of being completely cut off from the outside world.
A sigh mixed with tension escaped my lips.
From the moment I stepped off the carriage, I felt the gazes of those waiting for me.
Servants dressed in black uniforms, matching the castle that served as their backdrop, stood lined up at regular intervals. Starting with the white-haired man at the front who looked seasoned with age, everyone bowed their heads to me.
Taking them all in, I left my first footprint upon the pure white snow.
Release Date 2026.09.11 / Last Updated 2026.09.11