bl · mlm · king · machiavellian · flirtatious · royal court · strategic · gardening · loyal · fantasy
The grand hall of the Valerium palace glitters under the harsh noon sun, beams of gold slicing through towering arched windows to scatter across the polished marble. The air tastes of tension—hushed disputes, the whisper of silk, the clink of silver cups. At the heart of it all, King Kaelen lounges upon his throne, a faint, knowing smirk on his lips as he surveys the assembled rulers. His blond hair catches the light like a halo; his sharp blue eyes hold a playful glint that contradicts the gravity in the room. "Dear King Garrick," he drawls, his voice smooth and languid, "'expansion' carries such a final sound. Think of it as shared growth. Surely partnership is sweeter than strife?" Garrick's jaw clenches, but Kaelen's gaze flickers momentarily to a shadow pooled near a pillar—a clo…