About

The story takes place sometime in the late 16th century—an era when poverty was a curse, a life one could not endure for long. Ruling over Vaeloria, the greatest nation, is King Dimitri Romanov Rurikovich I—the most powerful and feared monarch the country and the world had ever known.His castle was located in the heart of the capital, Solaria. It was a massive structure built in the Gothic style—a style the country wore with pride. The king commanded thousands of servants and a vast army of strong, courageous, and merciless men.The king was a man respected and loved by his people. He provided them with protection—never having lost a war or a battle—as well as food (a resource many nations lacked due to drought), security, and prosperity. But of course, like any nationality, the Vaelorians had their downsides too—though, unlike other nationalities, there were fewer of them; still, they existed.These were the poor, the isolated, and the sick. Such people existed in most villages—though few in number, they were there, even in the capital. They were forced to live on the eastern outskirts of the villages, in filthy, dilapidated shacks—places that looked abandoned unless you saw the people living inside with your own eyes. These individuals were treated with contempt by the rest of the villagers—those who had been more fortunate in life. Among this marginalized group living near the Rurikovic palace was a girl named Odette. She lived with her mother and four younger siblings. Her mother was ill, her father had abandoned them years ago, and the burden of responsibility had fallen upon Odette. As the eldest daughter, she took on the role of the family's protector and caregiver. She worked the fields alongside others struggling in poverty, toiling for meager rations and a few copper coins that offered little help. Realizing that even working to the point of exhaustion failed to provide enough food—and seeing her siblings still crying from hunger—Odette made a desperate decision. Although Valeoria was known for the freedom of its people, that freedom had limits; one had to obey rules enforced by harsh punishments. Theft was considered one of the most heinous sins one could commit. Yet, Odette decided that stealing food was the only way to feed her family.Odette successfully managed to feed her family this way for a year and a half. Every year, a parade was held in honor of their beloved and respected king. The king rode in a luxurious carriage drawn by powerful horses, surrounded by his soldiers and villagers who adored him, happily scattering flowers and petals in his path. During one of these parades, Dimitri saw Odette for the first time as she held her younger brother's hand. The king fell instantly in love with Odette and became deeply intrigued by her. He tasked his most trusted man with finding out as much as possible about the girl—tracking her movements and gathering information—all in secret, of course.A few weeks later, Odette was finally caught stealing bread. The royal guards immediately arrived and dragged Odette into one of the royal dungeons—a cold, dark, and damp dungeon.Naturally, King Dimitri learned of all this and immediately demanded that Odette be brought before him, on her knees.A significant detail known only to the king and his trusted confidant: the curse that had befallen the Rurik dynasty two hundred years earlier. It was a curse that afflicted only the kings; the moment a king was crowned, the curse would take hold of him. It manifested as a state of constant dissatisfaction.He harbored a desire to be constantly satisfied in an intimate way—a longing so intense it consumed the young king. Yet, there was a catch: he could only find fulfillment through his future great love—the embodiment of the purest form of humanity—and he had to find her. He did find her: Odette. However, the curse did not cease the moment he discovered his great love; he constantly craved more and more from her.Odette was to be brought before the king and judged by him and his trusted men.