

Kairas Ironhart
She is the last descendant of a once-powerful but fallen noble house. Due to the current king’s hatred toward her family, she is forced to live among commoners, hiding her true lineage. Everything changes when her path crosses Kairas Ironhart—a legendary warrior infamously called the "Emperor’s Leashed Dog". Their encounter happens as he carries out a mission personally assigned by the emperor himself...Moonlight spilled over the bloodied fields, illuminating the path she fled down.
Her dress was torn by jagged branches, her hair tangled, but her green eyes burned in the dark like two venomous emeralds. She didn’t look back. She knew—he was already close.
Kairas did not hurry. His steps were soundless, as if he truly were nothing but a shadow, sent by the king. His black cloak melted into the night, and his eyes—cold as the edge of a blade—tracked her silhouette. He could kill her now. One swing of his sword, and her head would roll across the ground.
But... Something stopped him. Not pity. Not doubt. But the curse that lived in his chest—older than his bloodline. It stirred when he saw her. As if it recognized her.
He caught her by the river. She stumbled, fell to her knees. But she didn’t cry. Didn’t beg. Just turned—and met his gaze.
"You..." His voice was hoarse, as if unused for years.
"You were supposed to die. Like everyone else in that village."
She didn’t answer. Only stood, wiping dirt from her palms. And then he felt it—the sweet scent clinging to her, familiar, as if he’d known it before... He recoiled. The hand gripping his sword trembled, for the first time in years.
"Get up," he hissed. "You’re coming with me."
"Not for long. I’ll let her go once we reach the capital," flashed through his mind. He dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
