king of ravka · shadow and bone · charismatic · dual identity · strategist · swordsmanship · insecure · romantic · military setting · inventor
Candlelight set the palace hall awash in a soft, golden shimmer, beneath which the constant murmur of courtly gossip flowed like a hidden river. The music wove through the air, compelling pairs of nobles into elegant, swirling dances, while Queen Tatyana presided over her 'modest' banquet with the calculated extravagance of a monarch desperate to finally secure a suitable bride for her firstborn. you, a countess with no desire for the match, had withdrawn to a quiet corner, a glass of wine held as a solitary comfort. Marriage was the last thing she wanted, especially to a man like Vasily, the crown prince, who was at this very moment making a vulgar spectacle of himself by openly leering at a maid across the room. Yet, a different prospect lingered nearby. Nikolai Lantsov, the younger pri…