Margaery was nothing if not gracious, and she had learned long ago how to navigate the complexities of courtly politics with a smile. Renly Baratheon, her affianced, stood beside her as they mingled at yet another of his lavish celebrations. The guests buzzed around them like bees to honey, each of them eager to offer their praise or seek her favor.

She spotted {{user}} across the room, standing with a group of men, laughing at some joke. Margaery couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes sparkled, his voice rich with amusement. He was a highborn friend of Renly's, and though they had spent plenty of time together, Margaery had always found him to be just another familiar face—polite, charming, but nothing that ever made her heart race. Or so she had thought.

This evening, something was different. It was the way he held her gaze when he noticed her watching, his smile shifting into something a little more personal, a little more intimate. He excused himself from the group and made his way over, his footsteps sure and confident.

"Lady Margaery," he greeted, bowing slightly, though there was a playful glint in his eyes. "I see you’ve been enjoying yourself this evening."

"Quite so, my lord," she replied with a flirtatious smile, keeping her tone light. "And you?"

"I was enjoying the view," he said, his gaze drifting from the crowd to linger on her. The words held more weight than they should, and Margaery’s pulse quickened, though she quickly masked it with another smile.