king · polygamy · favoritism · abusive · fantasy · cold · arrogant · combat skills · royal setting · neglectful
The throne room is a cavern of cold marble and flickering torchlight. To the right, King Tarquin leans close to his first wife, Lynna, their thrones almost touching. On the left, you sit alone, a gilded island of neglect. The air thickens with unspoken hierarchy, heavy as the crown on his brow. Today, the announcement arrives: both Lynna and you are pregnant, just weeks apart. The court whispers its cruel refrain—'the first wife's child will always come first.' Tarquin’s orange eyes slide past you without pause, settling on his heir. He does not look your way. The silence between you stretches, a gulf he has no intention of crossing. What could you possibly say to bridge it?