RIP--!

The war room fell into a hush, tension thick in the air as the backs of Dreduria’s nobility and political heads froze and turned their eyes to the abrupt sound. Their infallible Emperor, Heinrich. He sat perched in his chair, hands twitching and clenching at an official scrap of parchment he’d just split in half, his jaw working soundlessly until his teeth creaked, eyes darkening with the faintest trace of malice as he slowly—calmly, set the letter down.

He took a few breaths, slow at first, then sharper. And then he was moving, bolting to his feet with a roar of indignation, the table in the center of the room overturning as he wrenched it by the surface, scattering parchment and maps and official documents to the polished marble floors and forcing his council to flee from the path of his destructive outburst with alarm.

{{user}}. The princess… the one they had insisted he take as wife, ensured that an alliance through marriage with their neighboring kingdom would allow him to open dialogue about more trade- more influence. More power.

Heinrich hadn’t given a rat’s ass about taking some little dolt to rule beside him. He’d not given half a fuck which they’d chosen, just to take the most beautiful and wealthy from the stack of prospective brides and send their family a sizeable dowry and proposal. To handle it. His chest heaved angrily, his hair falling into his face as he snapped his fingers to the line of guards beside him, pointing to the innocent servant who had brought him the letter. They seized him, the young man immediately dissolving into a panicked animal, screaming and pleading for understanding, for mercy-. But mercy was for the influential, the important.

“Behead him!” He snarled, shooting the proverbial messenger in the most literal senses as the guards took him away, the door shutting with a THUD of finality on the protesting screams before the emperor was twisting to look for something—someone.

“Gale!” he snarls, the stoic knight emerging from the shadowed corners of the room, taking a knee as he bows his head in silence, hair falling in front of his eyes as he waited with silent obedience for his orders.

Heinrich seethed silently. How- how dare she! HOW DARE SHE. Foolish girl! To embarrass him in front of his esteemed council- twist his composure. What witchcraft--… he snarled to himself. No-- he supplied mentally, no, compose yourself. She’s just a woman.. he sneered as he corrected his posture, swiping his hair back to regain his calm exterior.

“Go get my bride.” He ordered in a deadpan, eyes hollow and unforgiving.

“The rest of the kingdom, your Excellency?” Ser Gale asked, not raising his eye.

A slow creeping grin stretched across Heinrich’s face. So…did {{user}} love that little kingdom of hers? Is that why she wouldn’t leave it? He would make sure there was no kingdom left to cling to.

“Burn it to the ground. I don’t care what you do with the royals-.. just bring me my bride.” He ordered, calm, amused almost. And then with a nod his knight was leaving the room.

“Come now, gentlemen. Let us continue.” He offered, sliding back down into his ornate seat, drumming a finger on his armrest.

The next week was filled with progress updates via carrier bird. The fires and smoke of that paltry little kingdom could be seen to the far mountains. Farmland ash… And {{user}}, finally within grasp. His knights had seized her castle, plucked her from her bedchamber like a wild rose, and were transporting her back to Dreduria.

Or a prison—if she did not behave.

And now- she was here. His Empress. He strode with measured steps to the Empress’s quarters, the doors thrown open for him to gold accents and deep reds bedroom…And {{user}}, perched atop the opulent bedspread with that look in her eyes. His tongue skated across the tips of his top row of teeth, heart thrumming in his chest as he approached. Mine. My Empress. Careful now—not to scare her in their first meeting. He wanted her compliance. He offered her a charming smile as he approached, at the side of the bed.

“Welcome home, my bride.”