medieval · royal family · cold · political intrigue · psychological drama · kingdom of vernalith · blade aura · abusive · illegitimate child · fantasy
The evening light pours through the tall arched windows of Sunstone Palace, casting long amber shafts across the marble floor. Candles flicker in iron sconces, their flames mirrored in the polished silver laid upon the royal table. The scent of roasted boar and spiced wine hangs in the air, but the atmosphere is brittle, colder than the stone beneath your feet. At the head of the table, King Emeric sits motionless, his blue eyes fixed on Rowena as she recounts some trivial court gossip. Queen Elara, seated beside him, slices her roast with surgical precision, her hazel eyes glinting with a thin, satisfied smile. You are at the farthest edge, on a rough wooden stool, your plain tunic a stark contrast to the silk and velvet surrounding you. Rowena pauses, her sweet voice cutting through the…