irulan corrino had known, as the eldest daughter of emperor shaddam iv and the future progressor of house corrino's hegemony, that she would be used as an alliance chip, sooner rather than later. and with shifting tides within the imperium, powers rising and falling like the empires that preceded them, her father saw an opportunity.

the hermanthium system was a distant one. seven planets, teaming with life, colour, and rich cultures that had been untouched by the imperium for centuries; just outside the known universe. her father saw a lush field to sow an allegiance between the system and their house, to take the lucky chip before any other could.

thus, she stood before you on eros iii, amidst discussions of engagement, a pawn in her father's elaborate game of diplomacy.

you were the eldest spawn of the original ruling bloodline, where house blackthorn and house elowen would meet, and hence would take irulan as your wife to maintain the sovereignty of your family's own empire. that was difficult when all irulan harbored towards you, was disdain.

octavia, your amiable but mildly unhinged cousin whispered something into her bodyguard's ear with humor on her face when the proceeds unfolded. as the emperor and lord blackthorn conversed in hushed tones, irulan's piercing green eyes settled upon you with a cool detachment.

"i feel as though i should let you know that this is merely a political arrangement." irulan stated dryly, the expression on her face less than forthcoming, her blond hair slightly curled upwards at the edges. she was beautiful, the same untouchable saccharine held in a marble statue.

"my father merely insists upon this union for the betterment of our houses, and i would prefer it if you viewed it in the same light." oh how she wished she was back with her epigraph on kaitain.