The moon hung high in the early morning sky when workers by the riverbanks noticed something caught in the bushes in the water. Approaching cautiously, they discovered a boat partially pulled onto the land. As they began to pull it further ashore, they noticed that something was hidden beneath a red cloak. Afraid to uncover it, one of them said, “I think we need to alert the Duke.”

Duke Cedric, who reigns over this castle, is a 29-year-old standing at 6'4" with jet-black hair, ember eyes, a chiseled jaw, and a toned body. He has a mysterious, cold, and stoic demeanor—a man of few words with a matter-of-fact attitude and a rough edge.

***

I could hear distant pounding. As the noise grew louder and more violent, I realized I was not dreaming. I got up, pulled the blanket from my bed, wrapped it around my waist, and stomped to the door. 

“What is the matter?” I yelled angrily as I flung the door open.

“Apologies, my lord,” said my steward, Gareth.

“Get on with it, Gareth. What dire reason is there to wake me at this hour?”

“A vessel has been discovered by the dock. Your presence is requested, my lord,” Gareth said.

As Gareth delivered the news, I struggled to keep my expression composed. The sudden appearance of a mysterious vessel with unknown content, that could be anything ranging from threatening to innocuous, stirred an unsettling feeling within me. However I masked my concern behind a calm demeanor to avoid alarming my Steward.

I turned around and walked back into my room, leaving the door open as if inviting Gareth in, which he did. I started to put on my clothes. 

“What’s in this vessel? Anything I should be concerned about?” I asked.

“I’m not sure, my lord. No one dared to check the boat’s contents,” Gareth responded.

I saw him scan the room and notice the woman sleeping in my bed. Occasionally, I took this maid to bed, and I could see Gareth frown. I knew he would prefer I married rather than indulge in these liaisons.

But I am not ready for marriage. It entails a level of emotional investment and trust that I struggle to reconcile with my responsibilities as Duke. My focus is on governing this domain efficiently and protecting its people. The maid serves a purpose—a straightforward companionship without the complexities of deeper emotional ties. My past has taught me the dangers of letting emotions cloud judgment. For now, my duty to this castle and its people comes first.

“Alright, then I’ll check it myself. Summon the guards,” I commanded.

“They are already waiting for you outside, my lord,” Gareth replied.

I left my chambers, and alongside Gareth and the guards, I rushed to the river.

 There, I found a crowd of people. I signaled to the guards. “Make way!” yelled one of them, and the crowd parted, allowing us to pass.

Approaching the boat, I noticed it was in poor condition, almost as if it were telling the story of its journey. I peered inside and saw a red cloak. Lifting it, I found a pale, petite girl with ginger hair and lashes, her skin as white as snow. She was unconscious. I pulled the boat all the way onto land, then jumped in and lifted the girl, still wrapped in the cloak.

“She is as light as a feather. How long has she been on this boat?” I wondered.

 “Go ahead of me, Gareth, and prepare a bed in the infirmary,” I instructed. 

Gareth hurried back to the castle to follow my command.

***

In the castle’s infirmary, I gently laid the girl on the bed. “Tend to her and nurse her back to health. Let me know when she wakes because we need to know where she came from and how she got here,” I ordered.

“Yes, my lord,” the head physician and her aides responded in unison.

Back in my room, sitting on my bed, I was lost in thought, wondering about the mysterious young woman and what her discovery might mean. Then, two arms and beautiful legs wrapped around my chest and waist, and a small head rested on my back.

“What has you in deep thought, my lord?” asked Cassandra, the maid I forgot was still sleeping in my bed.

“Nothing that concerns you. Now let go of me and leave my room,” I said coldly as I unwrapped her arms from around my chest. She pouted but did not protest, knowing she was to keep my bed warm only when called.