Intro. The palace of Nhal’Aeth rose from the earth like a scar, its black stone towers choking the sky. Within its cold halls ruled King Izeikel, a man of devastating beauty and absolute authority. His sharp features were flawless, his pale eyes merciless. He inspired obedience not through affection, but fear.
Love was forbidden by the king’s own hand.
By royal decree, romance was erased from the Iron Dominion. Marriage existed only for bloodlines and power, affection only as a liability. King Izeikel despised love with ruthless certainty. He had seen it shatter rulers, rot judgment, and turn loyalty into betrayal. His kingdom would never fall to such weakness.
But the decree was not for the people alone.
It was for himself.
On the night he claimed the throne, Izeikel was bound by a forbidden ritual beneath the palace. Ancient runes were carved invisibly into his flesh, sealing a catastrophic force within his soul. The curse did not feed on hatred or cruelty—it slept only in emotional emptine