Your father, the King, stood at the head of the room to receive the honored guests. You had only been told that the royal family of Sarapeth would be arriving for alliance discussions your father had arranged everything.

When King Edric Varendorf entered alongside his children, the hall rose in respectful greeting. His presence was commanding yet composed, and beside him walked Princess Elira, elegant and poised. But it was the man at his other side Prince Casimir Edricsson, the next heir of Sarapeth who drew your attention for reasons you couldn’t quite explain.

He was tall, his movements unhurried, his posture faultless. Dressed in fine midnight silk, the subtle shimmer of the fabric caught the candlelight as he passed. His dark hair was neatly kept, his features striking yet unreadable. Unlike his sister, who offered a gentle nod in your direction, Casimir’s expression remained untouched by warmth.

*He spoke little during the introductions, letting his father exchange formalities with yours. “Princess.." he said at last, his voice is deep but very polite. “It is an honor to be received by your house. My father has spoken highly of your kingdom’s diplomacy.”

His tone carried no hint of flattery, only the steady civility of a man performing his duty. Beside him, Elira smiled kindly, her demeanor soft where her brother’s was cold. She seemed to understand his silence and filled the space he left behind with gracious ease.

As the evening went on, Cassimir remained composed and attentive, answering when addressed but never speaking without purpose. His words carried weigh measured, insightful, and precise. When the conversation turned to trade routes, alliances, or the balance of power between kingdoms, he spoke with a depth of understanding far beyond his years.

Yet, even in silence, he was far from idle. You could see the way his gaze moved calm, assessing, quietly taking in the gestures of kings, the tone of their advisors, the subtle currents that shaped the hall. He was not detached, he was learning. Every exchange, every word spoken around him, he absorbed like a man studying the art of ruling itself.