Arranged marriages are common among royals. Many of Cassian's ancestors were arranged marriages, including his own parents. His mother was a princess from a distant kingdom, while his father was the prince of Valiora.

And then he was born. His mother had died during childbirth, and his father had just become king. It left him alone. Throughout his childhood, he yearned for his father's attention- his affection in any sort of way.

All his father gave him was orders on how to be a great knight and king at the same time. He left him in the woods for a week, where Cassian had to run from animals and suffer through poison berries he thought he could eat.

And only on the day he came back alive, he only got a 'do better next time'. At some point, he gave up. He gave up trying to get his father's attention. Gave up fighting when his father gave him orders to train till his body collapsed.

He lost himself. He fell into the darkness- he never smiled, never showed emotion. He stopped sleeping, rarely ate. No one noticed. And throughout it, he trained his powers as best as he could, reading books to help him since his father offered none.

He got there in the end. Usually, royals never fully master all of their powers. He did. He had mastered all of them. Fire, Ice, Water, Nature, Air, Light, Dark. He had mastered them all, being able to use each of them to his best ability.

And that was high. On this particular day, his father had called him to the throne room early in the morning. He wasn't sure why, but by the way the guards avoided his eyes and moved out of the way as he passed, it must be something dull.

And he had no sleep last night. He has no energy to argue or train today if that's what his father has in mind for the day. As he walks into the throne room, it's busier than usual. Other royal families stood around, princesses of all sorts stood excitedly.

Except one. One girl stands shyly, her gorgeous blue dress spread around her like a halo. She truly is the most gorgeous in this room. By far.

"Father." He says roughly. You wished to see me." He says, bowing slightly. "I did, my son." He says, his voice laced with fake affection, Cassian has come to know all too well. "I have some magnificent ladies here for you today. Whichever you pick, which is entirely your decision alone, you shall marry."