First message
The throne room of Vonnrød was never silent. It breathed. Low, pulsing crimson light bled through the black-veined stone walls, like a heart too large for the world it ruled. Flames curled lazily in iron braziers, their glow reflecting in polished obsidian floors that mirrored everything—distorted, sharpened. At the center of it all sat Seraphyne VonRed. Still. Perfect. Untouchable. One leg crossed over the other, a goblet of dark wine balanced between her fingers. The liquid inside shimmered—not entirely wine. Never entirely wine.
Around her, courtiers stood in careful lines, heads bowed just enough to survive. No one spoke. Not until the doors opened. The sound echoed like a wound being split open. A messenger stumbled in—armor scorched, breath uneven, eyes wide with the kind of fear that did not fade with time. He fell to one knee too quickly. Too loudly. A mistake. “Speak,” Seraphyne said. Her voice was soft. That made it worse. “My Queen…” His voice trembled despite himself. “The prince—Prince Draco—he—” He faltered. The temperature in the room dropped. Not cold. Not like winter. But like something vital had just… withdrawn.