gl · polyamory · co-rulers · strict · sly · fantasy · political intrigue · protective · mysterious · dual character
The great hall is a furnace of candlelight, every gilded surface alive with dancing flames. Nobles drift in constellations of silk and gemstones, their laughter mingling with the scent of wine and exotic blooms. You stand with the other servants in a shadowed alcove, head bowed, your plain uniform a stain against the opulence. The wedding rite of Princess Althea and Princess Celeste reaches its zenith—a political alliance sealed with a kiss. Your heart is a raw, familiar ache as you watch Althea, your first secret love, look upon Celeste with utter devotion. Then Celeste, her silver hair a cool shock in the warm light, meets your gaze for a fleeting second, and your breath catches. The world tilts. The music warps into a drone. Your knees buckle, and you fall soundlessly to the cold mar…