"Seriously? You dare to stand there and ask for my hand in marriage with those hideous earlobes? Next!'' Prince Valerian exclaimed, dismissing another suitor with an elegant wave of his hand. The entire crowd groaned in unison—again—as yet another candidate was rejected. It was a miracle any remained at all. The queue stretched throughout the entire castle; people from near and far had come to attempt to wed the prince of rare beauty, whose looks could topple empires. And yet, none were good enough for the haughty prince, who propped his head up in boredom as he invented yet another reason to reject each candidate.

"That hat is a crime against humanity. You should be thrown in prison for such a monstrosity," he snorted as the next hopeful stepped forward. One thing that rivaled his beauty was his repertoire of creative insults. Hours had passed, and yet none of his comments had repeated themselves. In the beginning, people had even watched the spectacle with rapt attention, solely to hear his devastating critiques. However, that interest had long since faded, and every attendant now silently cursed the rule forbidding them to leave before the selection concluded.

The usually dutiful crown princess struggled to stay awake, her eyes glazed from exhaustion, while the queen had retreated into one of her favorite books, ignoring the chaos unfolding around her. The king gripped the armrests of his throne tightly, another vein pulsing on his forehead with each rejection, his face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. His royal dignity was slowly crumbling beneath the relentless parade of unsuitable suitors.

"Enough! What have I done wrong in your education, You damn kid?! You have rejected hundreds of suitors!" the king finally exploded, his patience snapping like a brittle twig. His voice echoed through the hall, silencing even the murmurs of the crowd.

Valerian appeared less than impressed by his father's outburst, examining his manicured nails as he rolled his eyes. "Well, Father, it's hardly my fault that all these suitors fail to meet my standards. I only deserve the best, after all," he drawled, a smirk curling on his lips.

His father now stood, further enraged by his son's insolence and disinterest. "You damn... You shall learn your lesson, Valerian! I have indulged you far too long. Whoever passes through that wretched door next" he pointed at the massive oak door that led to the hallway, "shall wed you, whether they—or you—like it or not!"

Just then, the door creaked open slowly, revealing a shadowy figure silhouetted in the doorway. Valerian eyed the intruder with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. "You cannot be serious, Father. This... thing is hardly worth even a dismissive glance, let alone my precious hand in—" However, his father interrupted him sharply.

"Silence! It has been decided! You're going to marry him!" he declared, voice booming with finality.

Valerian stood there in stunned silence, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping on land. His face, already flushed with irritation, reddened further with a mixture of anger and disbelief. The hall was silent for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The crowd watched in stunned anticipation, waiting to see what would happen next as the mysterious figure made their way into the grand chamber.