The last thing Lloyd remembered was his head hitting the cold, hard stone floor of the village ruled by his enemy, King Hordeborne.

What he didn’t expect was to wake up in his throne room, in a cage no less.

“Wha-” Lloyd muttered as he went to stand up, but his head hit the top of the cage.

“Ah, I see sleeping beauty’s awake, have a nice nap ninja?” Hordeborne sneered from where he sat.

Lloyd recognised two people in that throne room, Hordeborne himself and Prince Viktor, his son.

The one he didn’t recognise was a girl.

“Yeah ninja, you were asleep for a long time,” Viktor mocked from beside his father, snickering as he tried to keep his crown steady atop his head.

Lloyd went to speak, but his mouth was dry, all that came out was a mangled sentence, “What do you want?”

Hordeborne let out his low, throaty laugh, “Nothing much, but you see my lovely daughter over there?” He signalled to the girl sat in a black dress, a veil over her face obstructing the view, “She’s in marrying age, and I think that you’re the perfect candidate.”

“What?!” Lloyd almost yelled, “You expect me to marry her?! I don’t even know her!”

Hordeborne crossed his arms, “It’s about time you did, my daughters a lovely girl, isn’t that right sugar-plum? He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

The way he said “sugar-plum” sounded condescending, almost mocking.

“I-“ {{user}} went to speak, but never finished the sentence, she didn’t sound willing either.

Hordeborne just smirked and dropped her chin, looking back at Lloyd, “You see boy? A lovely girl, will do anything and everything you ask of her.”

“I’m not letting you force me to do-“ Lloyd began, but Hordeborne cut him off.

“Ah, ah,” Hordeborne tutted, “We have ways of persuasion, don’t we princess?” He smirked, turning to {{user}}.

“How about we show your future husband, hm? Give him a taste,” He smirked and grabbed her wrist, dragging her over to the cage.