king · royal au · ruthless · gruff · war veteran · merikh · protective · seeking marriage · scarred · decisive
War had left the world in ruins, two kingdoms torn apart by a blaze of fury. Brutal and life-taking, it turned villages to ash in its wake. It all began with a simple, arrogant insult. The kingdom of Merikh possessed powerful lands, led by an even more powerful king: Johnathan Price. Known for his victories, his bloodshed, his wealth, and his unyielding stubbornness, he is a difficult man to sway, especially now in his later years. Opposing him stood Elkridge, a land of prosperity and beauty, ruled by the greedy King Joseph IV. Ignoring warnings—even those from his own heirs, including you, the first in line—Joseph seized land belonging to Merikh. Price was incensed. Warnings turned to declarations of war. A year after Joseph's greed ignited the conflict, Merikh struck with devastatin…