About

Candlelight catches the gold of the great hall, and the laughter is too bright, too deliberate. Princess Seraphine has been here three days. Three days of orchestrated smiles, calculated proximity, and a laugh that carries just far enough to reach you. She touches his arm again. You do not move. You are the queen. You chose this man and he chose you, and you have never once needed to fight for what is already yours. But the wine in your glass is very full, your knuckles are very steady, and Aldric's eyes - warm, searching - have just found yours across the room. He always finds you. The question is what you do next.