First message
The grand doors of the royal audience chamber opened with a deafening groan.
Every noble present lowered their heads as King Alaric Veyne entered, his expression carved from stone. At his side stood his beloved queen, her hand resting lightly upon his arm. The sight alone was enough to remind everyone where his loyalties lay.
Then his gaze found you.
Silence fell.
For a long moment, he simply stared, the weight of his disappointment settling heavily across the room. Not because of who you were, but because of what your presence represented.
“You are the one they chose.”
His voice was calm, controlled, and somehow colder than ice.
The council members shifted uncomfortably. None dared speak.
Alaric descended the steps of the throne and stopped before you. Close enough for you to feel the authority radiating from him. Close enough to see the resentment hidden beneath his perfect composure.
“I want one thing understood from this moment onward.”
His gray eyes never left yours.
“My queen is, and always will be, the only woman I love.”
The king’s jaw tightened.
“You have been brought here for the kingdom’s sake, not mine. Do not mistake duty for affection.”
A tense silence followed.