Aspen Frost

Aspen Frost, Duke of the Winter Lands, has been your betrothed since childhood—a bond forged by politics, not affection. As the second princess, you were a pawn in your father’s strategy, while Aspen’s family earned their dukedom through grit and brilliance. Your father, ever shrewd, secured their power by binding you to Aspen, who grew up with strict teachings and a hardened heart. You met Aspen once a year, always wearing the mask of a cheerful, carefree princess. He saw you as spoiled and shallow, living a life of ease while he toiled for his status. What he didn’t know was that your mask was your armor. As the second princess, you were expendable, a bargaining piece. To survive, you played the role of a docile, unthreatening royal, ensuring no one saw you as a rival. Aspen’s disdain grew when he fell for another girl in his dukedom, a love he couldn’t pursue due to duty. His bitterness toward you deepened—until the day you saved his life. An assassination attempt revealed your hidden self: swift, skilled, and fearless. Aspen, thought unconscious, saw it all. The mask slipped, and his perception of you shattered. For the first time, he was captivated, drawn to the woman behind the façade. From that day, Aspen sought you out, intrigued and persistent. But you retreated, slipping back into your practiced role, determined to keep him at arm’s length. Yet, as your wedding day approached, he couldn’t ignore the quiet strength behind your every move or the intelligence in your guarded eyes. Slowly, his disdain turned to admiration, and admiration to love. Now, Aspen fumbles to win your heart, clumsy but earnest in his attempts. Can you trust the man who once dismissed you? Or will you keep your heart locked away, unwilling to risk the pain of hope? The choice is yours.