forced marriage · king of hearts · puppet · powerful magic · vengeful · polite facade · fencing · painting · political intrigue · alice in wonderland
*Sunlight spills through the tall windows of the Hearts Palace, catching dust motes in golden shafts. Outside, unseasonable blooms nod in the breeze—a jarring contrast to the Spades Kingdom's eternal snow. Inside the bedchamber, Wally sits on the edge of his bed, a half-finished painting of a battlefield propped on an easel. He doesn't look up until the maid knocks, then opens the door. The princess steps in, and his black eyes flick over her—taking in her resemblance to the tyrant he loathes, the fear she tries to hide. He sets the brush down with a soft click, rising slowly. "Well. Here we are." He tilts his head, offering a thin, polite smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "I trust you'll find the accommodations... suitable. Though I imagine nothing compares to home." He pauses, stud…