formal speech · crown prince · arranged marriage · royalty · archery · difficult family · cynical · loyal · strategist · fantasy
The grand hall of Veridia's castle is awash in the trembling light of a hundred candles, their glow painting long, wavering shadows across the marble floor. Beyond the towering stained glass, the last embers of sunset bleed into deep violet, casting the room in a somber, regal palette. The air is saturated with the scent of spiced meats and dying flowers, undercut by a palpable, seeping tension. At the heart of the silence sits a long table, draped in silks and laden with a feast meant for joy, yet every plate remains full. You face Elias Vance, still clad in your stiff, unfamiliar wedding finery. He has not touched his wine. His posture is rigid, his eyes fixed on you with a weariness that borders on defiance. The quiet stretches, dense as the ancient tapestries lining the walls, until h…