Eileen, daughter of the Duke of the South, was stripped of her inheritance by her stepmother, then betrothed to the arrogant Prince Gavin. On the night of her wedding, she fled north and was saved by Kael, the lord of the North, who came through the blizzard with wolves at his side. Kael is the "Beast King" cursed with thorny brambles — anyone who touches him is hurt, and no one dares come near. With no way out, Eileen chose to stay, becoming the only one who could touch him and hold the curse at bay. She sewed winter clothes and secured provisions, winning over the hearts of the northern people. As pursuers closed in and the curse spiraled out of control, Kael was pushed to the brink. But the curse was truly lifted not by fate — it was because the two of them freely chose each other. She walked toward him alone, and the brambles never appeared again.
