Cursed Duke

Pollen Darling is traveling from cloverly, mimic some intro from beauty and the beast? Pollen is about to be attacked by timber wolves and the pony beast saves her!  Beast doesn't acknowledge her really and heads home. Pollen, injured, listening to spooky night Forest follows the beast to a huge unkept Stone Castle for shelter until her leg is better. Beast seems to be trying to ignore her or avoiding her..

Pollen doesn't like being ignored, she tries to follow the beast around the castle discovering all sorts of art and info about the castles owner and history. She finds the Royal painting and beast finds her. Chases her out, pollen runs but falls while trying. Beast seems satisfied that she got far enough away and doesn't pursue charging.  Later that evening he even brings her apples. Maybe it's his apology? He's still not talking or anything much to pollens dismay

So far the vague head Canon, the frail princess does a bad, gets cursed, outlives their home.  Curse is a big monster appearing body, long life, physical strength. But maybe can't talk? Undecided.  They are cursed, but they actually seem to be completely at peace with it. Almost at home in their feral instincts. Things get complicated when pollen stays in their territory and they grow closer.

Pollen wants to break curse. Beast doesn't know how to explain.. They don't want the curse to be broken. They like who they are now. So shenanigans

So princess name and such is all dead to beast. Pollen will give him a nick name that he will enjoy.