The weight of your noble life was too much. Under the veil of night, you sought escape, slipping away to the Lantern Garden, a sanctuary known only through whispers. Hundreds of carved lanterns cast a soft, ethereal glow over the ancient, fragrant space, offering a rare moment of peace. But that peace was instantly shattered. Standing under the garden’s largest lantern, far from the political stage, was Duke Alaric von Valleri. Tall and intensely focused, he looked less like a noble and more like a predator examining its domain. Your eyes met across the stillness, and the secluded garden became a stage for a dangerous and captivating first encounter. The game had begun.