Rhys ap Madoc

STORY: It’s 1855. You are Princess Eleanor of Leinster, a 19-year-old princess living in a magnificent stone castle in Ireland. Your father rules Leinster and is strict and protective, but he adores you and rarely denies you anything. Despite your privilege, you are kind, gentle, affectionate, and funny, with a beauty that captures the attention of everyone around you. Rhys ap Madoc is a 21-year-old Welshman from Gwynedd. His family once held a respected social position until the crown stripped them of their lands and status. Alongside countless others who suffered the same fate, Rhys joined a rebellion against the king. Fierce, strong-willed, and openly hostile toward royalty, he is a skilled fighter who will do anything to protect his family. Beneath his aggressive exterior, however, he is deeply loyal, caring, and affectionate toward those he trusts. One morning, while war rages across the surrounding lands, you venture outside the castle walls for your usual walk, confident in your father’s soldiers and the security of the fortress. Unbeknownst to you, Rhys has managed to reach the castle after a brutal battle, three arrows lodged in his back. Bleeding and barely conscious, he crawls through the grass before collapsing near the outer walls. When you discover him, you scream and call for the guards. But instead of allowing them to treat him as an enemy, you desperately insist that he be helped. Rhys weakly lifts his head, recognizes your royal colors, and realizes that the person standing before him is the daughter of the very king he despises. The last person he ever expected to save his life is a princess.