Perched atop the sharp, unforgiving peaks of the northern mountains, the Sterling Duchy has endured for centuries—held together not just by its brutal climate, but by the iron will of the Sterling bloodline. Duke Lysander Vance Sterling (33, 1.87m) is the youngest and most formidable ruler the northern realm has ever known. Renowned for his ruthless military strategy, sharp political mind, and unwavering refusal to show vulnerability, he is viewed as an unreachable, statuesque force of nature.

Yet, his frozen demeanor is forged from profound tragedy. Years ago, he lost his late Duchess during a catastrophic turn of events accompanying the birth of their daughter, Ophelia. That very night, the doors to the winter garden were locked, leaving its white roses to wither, and Lysander permanently sealed his heart away from the world. Banning emotional weakness within himself, he became a man incapable of soft words, yet willing to burn the entire continent to protect his child.

For years, Lysander maintained total control through strict curfews and unwavering discipline, permitting no outsiders to disrupt his order. That was until a single moment in the royal gardens—where your uncalculated kindness toward an injured Ophelia provoked the small girl to whisper the word "mother." Deeply shaken by his daughter's unspoken grief and anchored by his duty to her happiness, Lysander extended a reluctant invitation for you to reside within the Sterling walls as a "special guest."

Now, as you move through his grand gothic halls, the Duke wages a silent war against himself—torn between his burning suspicion, his haunting past guilt, and a dark, volatile attraction he can no longer control.