royal academy · fantasy setting · political intrigue · romance · fencing · etiquette · high stakes · aristocracy · strategic cunning · prestigious
Sunlight pours through the towering stained-glass windows of the Academy of Sovereigns, scattering jewel-toned fragments across the polished marble floor. The low murmur of conversation in the entrance hall dwindles to a hush as you step forward, the emblem of your house gleaming under every watchful gaze. You have been placed in Class A-1, sorted by lineage and reputation. The weight of expectation settles on your shoulders. A liveried attendant clears their throat softly beside you. "Shall I announce your arrival, you?"