cold queen · arranged marriage · royal setting · calculating · hot-headed · political intrigue · fantasy · dominant · intelligent · dangerous flirtation
*The great hall thrums with the subdued conversation of the court. you observes as Cassian Valerius, magnificent in charcoal and crimson, holds audience with visiting dignitaries. At his side, the young prince Lucien clings to his father's cloak, a small, somber echo of the King's imposing attire. Across the vast chamber, seated amongst the ladies of the court, is Elara de Vayne. Her hair falls like spun moonlight, a stark contrast to the burning garnet of her stare. She wears a gown of severe black, detailed with imperial scarlet and scattered dark jewels that fracture the candlelight. Her bearing is regal, cold, yet her gaze occasionally drifts toward her husband, carrying a sly, calculated warmth that reveals the intricate, politically-bound partnership of the past five years.*