The snow outside the valecrest manor fell silently against the dark windows.

Inside the grand study. Thirteen-year-old Seraphina valecrest sat lazily across from her tutor. Spinning a silver pen between her fingers while staring at unfinished documents spread across the table.

"You solved all three trade calculation incorrectly on purpose again, my lady" the old tutor sighed.

Seraphina smiled without shame.

"you said I needed a challenge"

The tutor looked horrified. " That was the royal taxation exam"

A laugh escaped from the couch near the fireplace.

Lucien evermont glanced up from his book, silver eyes filled with amusement.

"you're going to make the imperial scholars cry one day"

" They already do " Seraphina replied calmly.

The warm room echoed with quite laughter.

Outside, servants hurried through snow-covered halls preparing for winter celebrations. Somewhere deeper inside the manor , maids whispered excitedly about the Duchess finally expecting another child.

Everything felt peaceful. Safe.

After her lessons are done Seraphina and Lucien evermont went to meet their mother.

*Door open*

"sara how is your lesson today" Duchess Elaria Valecrest asked her in a very soft voice , and helped her site beside her .

" Nothing special is the same as always,.... Mommy can you please ask Daddy another book from his library just one more book that's all I need" Seraphina looked at her mother with innocent, sparking eyes, silently pleading.

Her mother Elaria valecrest sighed, and put her hand on her head..... wishing her to be more like a child than mature enough to know the position of heir .

Lucien Evermont his mother Duchess Evangeline Evermont from the east, who is sitting opposite to them with her beloved son and watching them with a smile,she wishes and hopes that her son and Duchess valecrest daughter to get along well in the future like their mother filled with love and laughter.

Duchess Evangeline evermont is a close friend of Duchess Elaria Valecrest they know each other as they both came from a foreign land, they are like sisters. Upon hearing her friend Duchess Elaria valecrest is expecting a baby,although it is far from their place to come to the northern snow land she cannot leave her friend from her good news to celebrate and congratulate her on a new bundle of joy!

It's been three days since they arrived in Northern snow land with her beloved son Lucien Evermont.

The snow did not stop falling for three days( Evangeline evermont thought)

white stroms wrapped around the towering halls of House Valecrest, burying the northern mountains beneath endless forest. Yet inside the grand sunroom, warmth bloomed beneath golden chandeliers and cracking firewood.

"Again " the tutor sighed.

Lucien evermont groamed dramatically beside her. During their stay his mother let him study with lady Serephine valecrest for the time being until they departed.

Serephine valecrest merely turned the page of her book.

At thirteen, she already carried herself with the quiet composure of nobility far older than her age Sharp silver eyes scanned the map before her before calmly pointing toward the western trade route.

"Th.answer was never the west "she said softly.

" The west is covered in desert, there is no such thing as mine, what do you expect in the Desert, unless they have a secret where they got all that priceless and beautiful stone, and no one knows how and where they got, but they are also none for this and..... Question and how did they served Desert? im curious"

The old tutor blinked.

Lucien evermont started at her in disbelief because no one ever questioned that nor no one knows, and then he realised his is still learning eastern territory which is also very large enough to be a country.

"You frighten scholars twice your age and that is a very good question " in the corner near the fireplace across the tea table, Evangeline evermont laughter lightly.

Near the window, Duchess Elaria valecrest rested a gentle hand over her growing stomach, watching her daughter with umistakable pride .

And for a brief moment, the storm beyond the mountains felt far less cold.

In the land where winter never ended warmth was a rare thing.

Yet Elaria valecrest had found it.

Not within the roaring fireplace of the northern place.

Not beneath heavy furs or golden chandeliers.

But within the people she loved.

Her Husband.

Her Daughter.

Her Family.

A soft smile rested upon her lips as she stood beside the forest - covered window, one gentle hand resting over the child growing with her womb.

Beyond the glass, snow continued to fall endlessly across the mountains of the North , burying the world beneath silver and white.

Cold.

Silent.

Merciless.

Yet her heart had never once felt lonely here. Because this frozen land had given her a home.

And Alaric Valecrest had given her a love so fierce that even winter itself could not touch it.

A quiet laugh drifted from the sun room behind her.

Serephine valecrest.

Even now, their daughter was likely correcting her tutor again with that calm little expression she always wore.

Elaria's eyes softened immediately.

At only thirteen, Serephine already carried herself with a grace far beyond her age - intelligent, composed, frighteningly observant.

And yet, to Elaria she was still the little girl who once curled beside her during the snowstorm asking endless ques about the stars.

Then-

Movement below the palace gates caught her attention.

The distant sound of carriage wheels echoed against stone .

Elaria looked down through the falling snow.

A familiar black carriage crossed through the gates, the silver crest of House Valecrest gleaming beneath the storm.

Her husband has returned from the capital.

And without realizing it, she smiled.

********

Heavy footsteps echoed beyond the corridor.

Not rushed.

Not loud.

Yet every servant in the hall immediately straightened.

The doors opened.

Cold northern air swept briefly into the warm room as a tall figure stepped inside, snow still dusting the dark fur draped across his shoulders.

Duke Alaric Valecrest.

The Lord of the North.

The man who guarded the empire's frozen borders with an army feared across all four territories.

Lucien evermont sat properly.

The tutor lowered did not move.

But Serephine did not move.

Next before the terrifying Duke of the North - He was simply her father.

Alaric's sharp ice - gray eyes across the room before softening almost immediately upon finding his daughter and his wife.

"There you are "

Serephine closed her book carefully."you returned earlier than expected Dabby" and ran to hug her father with a s.le .

Lucien evermont and his mother Duchess Evangeline evermont "Welcome home,Duke valecrest" Evangeline said with a graceful smile.

Then Elaria his wife with a soft voice "you returned sooner then expected Alaric" with a smile.

Duke Alaric Valecrest kisses his wife's forehead showing his love for her openly with a soft smile.

Everyone who is in the room and household knows very well how much the Duke loves and adores his wife and daughter, he is cold on the outside but to his family he becomes soft.

" And miss tea with my daughter" he asked teasingly while removing his gloves." impossible".

Evangeline Evermont chuckled quietly, amused by the sight before her eyes .

The great Duke crossed the room and rested a large gloved hand atop Seraphina's head, gently brushing away a strand of silver hair from her face .

"sera, how were your lessons"

"The tutor underestimated me again " she answered with a small smile.

"I heard that" the old tutor muttered under his breath.

A smile appeared on Alaric Valecrest's face.

Yet enough to shock every servent nearby.

Because the feared ruler of the North almost never smiled except to beloved onesies.

"You worked too hard again"Elaria sighed softly from beside the window.

"And you should be resting" Alaric replied immediately, his tone gentle towards his pregnant wife.

Then his graze returned to Seraphina.

"Come"

She titled her head slightly. " where"

"The eastern watchtower "A faint smirk touched his lips.

"If you are to inherit the North one day, you should learn why men fear winter"

Lucien Evermont choked on his tea.

*******************

Days had passed since Duchess Evangeline Evermont and her son Lucien Evermont, arrived at the northern estate of Duke Alaric Valecrest. What was meant to be a short stay slowly became something neither Lucien nor Seraphina wished to end.

Despite the North being a land where snow never creased to fall, the valecrest estate was strangely warm. The mansion itself stood proudly like a fortress carved from silver stone, surrounded by towering walls and endless white fields.

Yet hidden within it was the greatest treasure of House Valecrest - The winter garden.

Built generation ago by the former duke for his beloved mother , the garden was said to rival even the imperial garden itself. Glass ceilings stretched high above like crystal skies , allowing golden sunlight to pour inside.

Flowers of every color bloomed endlessly despite the freezing land outside. Roses climbed marble pillars . Wisteria hung from arched pathways and fountains shimmered beneath war air enchanted by ancient magic.

Crossing its gates felt like steeping into another world.

Only members of the Valecrest family - and those deeply trusted by them- were ever allowed inside.

And somehow, Lucien had been welcomed there.

****************

At first, their meetings were formal.

Seraphina valecrest would sit gracefully beneath the white roses while reading thick political books far beyond the understanding of most nobles their age.

Lucien often found himself watching her in silence fascinated not only by her beauty but by the calm intelligence hidden behind her crimson eyes.

Every conversation with her became a surprise.

One snowy afternoon, the two walked slowly through the garden paths while servants remained at a respectful distance.

"Do flowers bloom this beautifully in the east"

Seraphina asked softly brushing her fingers against a pale blue lily.

Lucien glanced at her before smiling faintly .

"They do..........but not like this"

Seraphina titled her head ."What is the difference?"

"The flowers in the East are beautiful" he said carefully." But they feel alive"

A small smile appeared on her lips.

Lucien felt his heartbeat quicken.

He had already fallen for her the moment he first saw her , but the more he learned about her, the deeper he sank.

Not because she was Beautiful.

But because she was SERAPHINA.