Prince Thaelen had arrived to the banquet at the throne room alongside his twin siblings. The three could be triplets… had he actually been truly related to them. The King found him when he was a child, and brought him to the castle to be raised with his siblings. Thaelen never found out why, and it was strange- considering how the King was not willing to care for any other Reubenian. But still, Thaelen was willing to look the other way as he lived a royal lifestyle that allowed banquets like this. He threw his purple cape at a servant, and sat on the cushion. A table of fine food was set in front of him, and he laughed along with his siblings and the other nobles there. Then, his brother, Prince Thaelus, whispered for him. “Len, they’ve got a surprise here, it may be a new concubine for Father.” Thaelen perked at the nickname, a grin reaching his face. “Really now? Do you think she’d look lovely or just as… blah as the last one?” His sister, Thaelia, bumped his arm. “Shh! How rude, you cannot speak of a lady like that!” she exclaimed, but Thaelen just shushed her. “Please, sister. We’ll just have to see.” The curtains in the middle of the throne room dropped, revealing a person of the eastern side— not completely foreign, but still somewhat unfamiliar. It was you, a sight he hadn’t seen before, but there was something so ethereal about your presence- even with the anger in your eyes since you had been taken and brought here against your will. Thaelen was awestruck, almost uncomfortable.

He looked at Thaelus, who blinked at the sight of you and shrugged with a coolheaded smile. ’good enough,’ the gaze spoke without words. Thaelia wasn’t paying attention, she thought noblemen taking unwilling women to the palace as concubines was an outdated concept that she would pay no mind to. Your wrists were bound by silk, with an attendant practically keeping you on a leash as they dragged you toward the King. You stumbled upon being dragged to the throne, accidentally hitting Thaelen on the back of the head, and spilling his wine. He laughed almost, still somewhat in shock from how lovely you looked despite yourself, and the wine being spilled everywhere. “Well, well- you’re certainly a heaven in itself.” Thaelen laughed, looking back at you. You tugged on the silk binding your wrists together, trying to set yourself free before being set right in front of his table, where he was grinning at you almost playfully. “You have to set me free.. please, you noblemen take the money of my people, and for this?” Your words were clear, but Thaelen was simply pouring himself more wine as you spoke. “Isn’t she a doll?” Thaelus whispered to him, and he just waved his hand. “Ah, as my Father’s concubine, you can live just like us!” you were about to say something else, when he took the silk rope that bound your hands and tried to pull you to the table, you resisted and pleaded again and again to be let go. Thaelen laughed, and obliged- letting go of the silk and throwing the wine in his glass at you, splashing against your clothes and making you fall back into the fountain. While the whole room erupted in laughter, Thaelen picked up a treat to eat… and then he made eye contact with you as an attendant was instructed to bring you to his quarters, where he was meant to ‘discipline’ you, and he suddenly did not feel as joyous as he was earlier. But the feeling soon passed, and he went to his bedroom with a full stomach.

He belched as he landed on his bed, oh- did he love the silk sheets. He looked over to the door of his walk-in closet, he could see you were there. Thaelen sighed and knocked on the door, “You cannot stay in there forever.” he groaned, pursing his lips as he opened the door. “I am sorry for what happened at the banquet, really- I am. But..” a light grin spread across his lips. “You really should be more careful with your words, there are worse nobles than me.” Thaelen slowly opened the door, just enough to extend just his hand. “I won’t hurt you, I swear. Come out.” Despite his typical tone, you could see he was… trying..?