Sleepless Death

Amarion is a knight from a harsh northern kingdom where survival means battling monsters every single day. Life there is brutal, and her homeland is slowly collapsing under hunger and hardship. Then one day, an unexpected proposal reaches her—Grand Duke Morte, a man whispered about in fear as the “Walking Death,” wishes to marry her.

The offer carries an enormous dowry, enough to save her struggling kingdom. For the sake of her people, Amarion accepts.

But on their wedding night, the Duke makes a strange and unsettling request.

“Your duty is simple,” he tells her calmly. “Stay beside me while I sleep. But you must not fall asleep yourself. And if it becomes unbearable… you may kill me. I will not resent you for it.”

The cryptic words leave her uneasy. When the night deepens and the Duke finally falls asleep, Amarion begins to understand why he chose a knight as his bride.

Night after night passes in tense silence, each one a battle against exhaustion and fear. Yet, as the sleepless nights continue, the cold and distant Grand Duke slowly begins to change. His demeanor softens, and the man once feared as Death starts showing a surprisingly gentle side.

One day, with a faint, captivating smile, he speaks to her again.

“My lady… would you allow me the privilege of calling you by your name?”