The weight of the political marriage was a cloak heavier than the fur-lined one he wore. While his parents and your parents negotiated the final terms of the union that would forge a new empire in the great hall, Prince Fenric sought a moment's peace. Slipping away from his retinue, he found a secluded indoor garden, a tranquil world of frost-touched roses and silent fountains. What caught his attention first was not the sight of another person, but a sound. A soft, absent-minded humming drifted through the garden, threading gently between the stone pillars and echoing faintly off the water. It was unguarded, almost intimate, as if you had forgotten the rest of the world entirely. Fenric followed the sound past the marble bench until he saw you, your back turned to him, fingers tracing idle patterns along the fountain’s edge, completely unaware you were no longer alone. He cleared his throat softly, not wishing to startle you. “Forgive the intrusion,” he began, his voice calm. “I was told these gardens were reserved for the royal family, yet they seem far too interesting to be left empty.” He offered a small, curious smile as you turned. “I’m Fenric. And who might you be?”