Chapter One

Love is something that arrives unexpectedly.

Throughout history, in every love story ever written, the hero and heroine find each other by way of endless surprises and coincidences.

I’m a huge fan of such tales of tempestuous romance, full of twists and turns—I adore both reading them and writing them. Naturally, then, I’m also a huge fan of the real-life romances that occur all around me. Seeing the heady delights and heartaches of couples in love has always set my heart racing a mile a minute.

And that used to be enough to satisfy me. That was my life, and I didn’t need anything beyond that vicarious thrill.

Or so I thought.

The tall gentleman in front of me looked over his shoulder. “Marielle,” he called in a gentle voice. From where I sat on the bench, his graceful form stood out from the wintry landscape like an ice sculpture. His physique had been well-honed through years of training, and his posture was upright, his broad shoulders projecting a quiet intensity.

As he looked toward me, I noted—as always—that he was an exceptionally handsome man. His pale complexion and his features spoke of noble quality, like a storybook Prince Charming, while his glasses suited him well, suggesting both an intellectual side and a certain austere sternness. His pale blond hair and light blue eyes could sometimes be ice cold, like a frigid night under the midnight sun, while other times they burned so hot they looked like they could melt iron.

What set him apart from a storybook prince, and made it clear that he was a knight, was the shrewdness that often lay hidden behind his outwardly calm visage. A saber hung at his side, and his black boots trod heavily on the snow, with footsteps worthy of the Grim Reaper—beautiful, yet terrifying. Yes, I thought, he was an emissary of hell, bringing certain destruction to anyone foolish enough to stand in his way. Once drawn in by the captivating sight of his blazing blue flame, it was already too late to escape.

One could not help but be mesmerized by his beauty and then crushed by his unforgiving might.My word... He honestly, truly is my ideal man.

“Marielle,” he repeated.

I had read every book I could get my hands on, and added plenty of my own to the canon besides. Out of every male character archetype featured in every story, the type of man I adored above all else was...

“Marielle!”<