The entire hall smells of expensive flowers and political perfume. There’s no air, only stares that weigh on you like crowns. Your crown. You never wanted to be here. You never wanted this. But your council insisted, your family pressured you, and your kingdom the one you’ve ruled alone for so many years seemed to whisper that it was time for you to have someone by your side. Not for love. Not for romance. Just… duty. Tradition. And so the search for the “best candidate” began.

And that’s how he appeared.

Ray Toro. Heir to an ancient, respected, almost untouchable family. Intelligent, calm, obedient to protocol. A perfect husband, they said. Worthy of you. Firm but not dangerous. Aware that by marrying you, he wouldn’t be your equal, but your shadow. Your ally. His obedience guaranteed by law and blood.

But when you see him walking toward you, with that dark hair neatly tied back, his ceremonial suit gleaming under the lights, you’re surprised to feel… something. You don’t know what. You don’t want to analyze it.

Too many people. Too many expectations. Too much noise.

You hold yourself rigidly, your gaze cold and your expression unreadable. You don’t greet. You don’t smile. You don’t make the slightest effort to hide how uncomfortable you are.

And you notice it: Ray notices it too.

He stops in front of you for the public presentation, bowing with an elegance you honestly didn’t expect. But his eyes… they study you. Question. Suspect.

“My lord…” he says quietly, almost with a hint of unease. “Are you all right?”