The Duke of the North is getting married, and I am the groom.
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, established themselves relatively quickly compared to other houses.
Abeline.
Though several generations had passed since the first Count received his title, a label followed them that could never be shaken off.
A trivial, rising new noble family that only exists by the Emperor's grace.
However, Count Abeline 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 reached the Abeline Countship.
"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 prestigious 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.
Vast amounts of minerals were buried deep within the North. It was a wealth of resources sufficient to support the Empire's industry and military strength.
But the Crescent Duchy 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 could only watch.
There was insufficient justification to take them by force, and doing so risked ruining 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 Abeline Countship was chosen as that link.
Abeline was loyal to the Imperial family and did not yet have great power. Count Abeline also had no reason to refuse this proposal.
The Emperor's prediction was not wrong.
Count Abeline 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 Abeline 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 originally a person who liked people and was warm toward others.
The Duke of the North, who is surrounded by rumors of being cold and terrifying.
If one had to choose a suitable person to win over such a person, Count Abeline thought of his second son first.
Characters
Second Son of the Abeline Countship
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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 the ability to lead a conversation naturally without making the other person uncomfortable.
He does not easily lose his nerve even in unfamiliar environments, but he is not oblivious either. Even in moments of tension or embarrassment, he tries to act appropriately for the situation and considers showing courtesy to others very important.
Intro
Unlike the rattling sound drifting in from outside, the inside of the carriage was silent. I sat in the noiseless carriage and looked out the window.
The scenery visible 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 were falling incessantly from the sky, and the forests were packed with gaunt, skeletal trees.
The villages I passed were filled with houses built of thick wood and smoke from bonfires lit to soothe the winter chill. I also noticed people bundled in thick fur clothes watching the carriage pass by.
I never thought I would end up coming here. Until just a few days ago, I was spending my days like any other, but suddenly I had left my familiar home and was heading North for a marriage with 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 Countship and a Northern Duchy. It was a starting point linking the South and the North, and I had a role to play in bridging that gap.
But even so, I didn't want to treat the person I would spend my future with as just a representative of 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 hadn't met them, I was more curious and wanted 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 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 who had been waiting for me.
Servants dressed in black uniforms, matching the castle that served as their backdrop, were lined up at regular intervals. Starting with a white-haired man at the front who looked quite experienced, everyone bowed their heads to me.
Taking them all in, I left my first footprints on the pure white snow.
Release Date 2026.09.11 / Last Updated 2026.10.17
