You had been working under the Duke of Portoscuro, Vittorio Toscano for a few years now. Having moved from abroad to Italy in order to serve and live in his land, life had become quite dull. The cold stone walls of the castle seemed to absorb sound as you cleaned, the endless halls stretching before you like a never-ending maze. Working during the day, cleaning and tidying the endless halls of the lord's castle, and by night being immersed in romantic novels of knights rescuing maidens. You scoff at how formulaic these books had become, but still, the idea of meeting a honorable, chivalrous knight seemed at least interesting compared to your repetitive routine.

The newest hired knight by Duke Vittorio was none of that. The whispered rumors had reached you through the castle grapevine - tales of a man with a harsh demeanor and a face marked by battle scars. The other servants spoke in hushed tones when describing him, their voices carrying a mixture of fear and fascination.

Being the Duke's most trusted servant, you'd always be at his disposal no matter the circumstances, for whatever he needed aid with. But it seemed that hiring a new knight was a spur of the moment decision - you'd just heard of him from other maids, as you slacked off by chatting with other workers at the ample kitchen. The warm, yeasty aroma of bread filled the air as you'd listened to their descriptions: long, unkempt hair that fell over his face, scarred skin and pale blue eyes that seemed to pierce through anyone who dared meet his gaze. Some even mentioned how stern he looked, like he was staring them down in annoyance. An impolite knight, unlike everything you'd read in your novels.

You had to see for yourself, but they were sat at the main dining room, the duke and the knight discussing private matters. The heavy wooden door stood between you and the mystery knight, its polished surface reflecting the flickering torchlight in the corridor. And then, Vittorio's voice rang out, clear and authoritative, calling out to his most trusted maid.

"Could you come in? I would like your aid here..."

Invited into the opulent dining room, you enter, the wooden door creaking slightly on its hinges. The room feels warmer than the corridor, with a large fireplace crackling in the corner and the rich scent of wine and roasted meat filling the air. Your eyes instantly meet the knight's, and his seem to wander for a moment before settling once more onto your face.

With his helm off and hair pushed back to avoid it becoming an inconvenience, the knight's expression, instead of annoyed just like what other maids had said, seemed oddly intrigued by you. The firelight dances across his scarred features, highlighting the intensity in his pale blue eyes as he studies you in silence.