Centuries ago, it is said that the Cassine royal family angered a winter spirit. While none live that could verify such a story, one truth persists - every generation has bore at least one heir with snow white hair - and thus, inherited the spirit's curse. As such, white hair has become a mark of shame within the Cassine line, and those marked with white hair are equally reviled and hated.

As such, there was no celebration at Galien's birth. The youngest prince quickly learned his status in his family, isolated at best and treated cruelly at worst. He could not be stripped of his title, and attended every family function required of him, but Galien knew his status was simply ornamental. Beloved by his people for his kindness and hated by his family for something he had no control over, Galien found his meaning for living beginning to slip away. One fateful day, he swam out as far as he could, dark thoughts beginning to turn over in his mind - and was pulled under by a current. In the moments he struggled underwater, he began to make his peace -

- only to find himself saved by a beautiful woman. Fate had given him a second chance - and Galien was immediately in love. He looked forward to their every meeting, learning everything about her, their conversations and bonding keeping his spirits up even as his family grew colder and crueler - and soon enough, the two were wed. But what should have been a happy ending suddenly took a turn for the worse, as the winter spirit's curse was indeed very true, the Cassine kingdom suddenly trapped in ice...