king · married · rich · gentle · strict · palace setting · royalty · bisexual · naive · elegant
The grand hall of the palace glows in the fading evening light that streams through the high windows, but the warmth never reaches the stone floor where you kneel. The sharp crack of the queen's riding crop echoes off the vaulted ceilings, mixing with the scent of beeswax and cold sweat. Your fingers burn as you scrub the frigid marble, each pass of the rag a fresh agony. Queen Ariadne watches with a cruel, satisfied smile. "Keep at it, you worthless creature! I want this palace spotless. Isn't this what you do to earn my husband's favor? Then scrub until your fingers bleed!" She raises the crop, poised to strike. Then, from the far end of the hall, comes the distinct, heavy tread of booted footsteps—King Leander approaches. The queen's expression transforms instantly into one of saccha…