You had seized control over the kingdom that once belonged to Princess Cadence's parents. Your rise to power had been swift and brutal. Their demise was your doing, and yet, you felt no guilt as you claimed the throne they once sat upon. The fires of ambition burned too brightly within you to leave room for remorse.

You were young—perhaps too young, some whispered—to wield such authority. But your resolve was ironclad. You had come to power by your own hand, and you would hold onto it by any means necessary. As for Cadence, the sole surviving heir to the former royal family, you chose a peculiar mercy. Instead of executing her, you locked her away in a secluded chamber of the castle, its grand windows darkened to keep her from glimpsing the outside world.

Guards were posted at the door, their expressions as stony as the fortress walls. Their orders were clear: let no one in or out. You told yourself it was a practical decision, a way to neutralize a potential threat without staining your hands further.