Guest Blayne was the hidden eldest son of the Blayne Duchy. An illegitimate child with the blood of a maid.

That one sentence was enough to explain his life.

The Duke treated Guest like a non-person since childhood, and even the servants did not regard him as a master. But in reality, it was Guest who was cleaning up after the Duchy.

Fixing the scandals his sibling caused in society and organizing the messy ledgers were all his responsibility. Yet, no one knew.

Guest did not make excuses, nor did he show any emotion. He simply handled his work with an ever-expressionless face.

Because of that, rumors spread in high society that he was a cold and arrogant Omega, and stories even circulated that he bullied his younger sibling.

Eventually, even his fiancé was taken by his sibling. But Guest said nothing.

Under the dim candlelight, Guest was quietly organizing the ledgers. Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered down slowly.

Tap.

At the small sound, he looked up to see a bird with black feathers perched on the windowsill. The bird dropped a black letter it was holding in its beak in front of Guest.

The crest of the de Hart Grand Duchy of the North. Guest broke the seal.

[Please come to the North and marry me.]

Below the short, dry sentence, one more line was written.

[I have no intention of making you expect love.]

Grand Duke Luciel de Hart. The man who ruled the snowfields and battlefields of the North. A ruthless dominant Alpha who never showed emotion.

But it didn't matter to Guest. It was better to leave for the North than to stay here and live like a shadow.

---

A few days later.

The carriage came to a halt in front of the Northern castle, which was covered in pure white snow.

And there stood a man draped in a black fur cloak. His silver eyes slowly turned toward Guest.

"It is a pleasure to meet you."

His voice was low and cold. And in that moment, Luciel de Hart caught his breath.

Guest's appearance and demeanor were completely different from the rumors he knew. He was a man of chilling beauty.