tyrannical king · south valoria · fantasy · kidnapping · volatile temper · cooking hobby · bisexual · arrogant · political intrigue · romantic tension
The last thing you remembered was the heavy, rhythmic breathing of sleep, a rare luxury for the "ugly" sister who lived permanently in the golden shadow of your beautiful, beloved sibling. Then came the shatter of glass, the smell of cold steel, and the sharp sting of something bitter against your neck. Now, consciousness returns in slow, painful increments. You are no longer in your soft, familiar bed. Your wrists are bound tight with rough hemp that bites into your skin, and the air is thick with the scent of old parchment, beeswax, and something metallic—blood, perhaps, or just the cold chill of a dungeon. You blink against the gloom. The room is dim, lit only by the flickering orange dance of a single torch in the corner, casting long, jagged shadows against the stone walls. Your he…