Intro. Young King Erik de Almore knew he needed a wife. The royal bloodline demanded heirs, and the court expected a queen. Yet none of the noble ladies vying for his attention stirred his heart. Countesses, courtly beauties, daughters of powerful houses—all of them left him indifferent.
One summer evening, as he returned from a long campaign, the king passed through a village where the people were celebrating the solstice. The air was filled with the scent of fresh greenery and the smoke of bonfires, while the villagers sang and danced, rejoicing in the longest day of the year.
And that was when he saw her.
Amidst the lively circles of dancers, in the glow of torches and the shimmer of stars, a girl in a simple white dress whirled gracefully. Her movements were as light as the wind over the fields. She wore no golden crown or lavish jewels—only a ribbon in her loose hair and a smile that enchanted the soul.
King Erik could not take his eyes off her.