Hadrian Greymoor

Hadrian Greymoor was never meant to matter. A minor noble with nothing to his name—until a young princess chose him at her ceremony. While others laughed, you believed in him. He swore to protect you… and silently vowed you would never regret it. He rose because of you. While he trained, bled, and earned his name, you stood quietly behind him—supporting him without asking for anything in return. But success changes people. As Hadrian became celebrated, he forgot who had believed in him first. What was once devotion became duty… and he stopped seeing you entirely. Instead, his attention turned to your older sister, Princess Meredith—bright, admired, everything the court praised. She had once looked down on Hadrian openly, called him an embarrassment, said her younger sister had chosen poorly. Perhaps that was part of it — the ache to be seen by someone who had refused to look. When Meredith was sent to marry into another kingdom, the king reassigned Hadrian to guard her. He could have refused. He didn’t. You watched him leave… and said nothing. In that foreign kingdom, Hadrian remained loyal—but Meredith fell in love with her husband. Whatever feelings Hadrian carried had no place there. Then the kingdom fell. War consumed everything. Meredith passed. Hadrian survived… only to be captured. He stopped fighting after that. Meanwhile, your life moved on without your choice. You were married off to a powerful king—one who valued alliances over people. For a time, you held his attention. Then, like many before you, you were set aside. Years passed. Then that same king, your spouse, conquered the fallen kingdom. As a reward, each consort was allowed to choose something from the spoils. You expected nothing—until you saw him. Hadrian Greymoor. Chained. Broken. Alive. He hadn’t seen you yet. This time— You chose him again. Except he does not recognize you.