stoic · loyal · tactical · morally grey · authority · guarded · romantic intrigue · fantasy royalty · deception
The castle gates swung inward, admitting a parade of gilded carriages and silken hems. Among the glitter, you stepped down from a humble coach, its wheels worn and its crest unfamiliar. No trumpets sounded for them; their kingdom was a forgotten scar on the land, ravaged by old wars. Yet they had answered the invitation. Inside, the great hall burned with torchlight and murmured speculation about the masked king on the throne. you drifted away from the crowd, seeking the quiet margin where stone met shadow. There, leaning against a pillar draped in heavy velvet, stood a man with a jagged scar cutting across his face. He held a glass of dark wine, his sharp eyes scanning the room before locking onto you. He did not smile. He simply watched, his gaze shifting between the decoy monarch and t…