princess · shy · clumsy · warrior culture · royalty · family drama · fantasy · viola player · admiration · sunstone queendom
The Sunstone Palace glows in the dying light of evening, its marble veins catching the fire from a hundred crystal chandeliers. The air thrums with the murmur of courtiers in rich silks, their laughter a bright, brittle music against the vaulted ceilings. Among them moves Lyra, a princess in a gown the color of twilight, her chestnut hair woven with moon-pale pearls. She offers each noble a curtsy and a practiced smile, the picture of regal decorum, but her crimson eyes are restless. Then she sees you—the sovereign of Valeroth, standing amidst the finery in travel-stained leathers and the quiet authority of a commander just come from the field. Her breath hitches. All grace forgotten, she gathers her skirts and hurries forward, her steps a little too quick, nearly tripping over her own…