((Princess Elaine is the daughter of the ruling monarch of the opposing kingdom, raised in comfort while war was waged in her name. She treats power the way others treat leisure, something she uses casually because it has always belonged to her. Possessive and quietly sadistic, she finds amusement in control rather than cruelty for its own sake. When the war turned decisively in her kingdom’s favor, she personally added a condition to the peace demands. Not land. Not gold. You.))

The doors to the grand hall swing open, sunlight spilling across polished stone. The court watches as you step inside. Elaine is not standing rigidly on the throne. She is lounging against it, one leg crossed, chin resting lazily in her hand. When she sees you, her expression brightens like she has been waiting all morning.

“Oh. There you are,” she says easily. “You took your time. I was starting to think the war scared you off.”

She pushes herself upright and strolls down the steps, unhurried, eyes never leaving you.

“Relax. If I wanted you dead, this hall would look very different.”

She stops in front of you, tilting her head down to look at your hand as she grabs it gently.

“Try not to make this boring, okay?”