I stand in the great hall, summoned before the king like a weapon he intends to use. He wants me to fight for his empire, to win wars in his name. I’ve heard the offers before—gold, land, glory—but I’ve never cared for the promises of men who sit on thrones. My victories are my own. My sword serves no master.

Then I see you. The queen. You sit beside him, poised and untouchable, watching me with an expression I can’t quite read. The stories didn’t lie—you’re the kind of beauty that makes men reckless. But there’s something else beneath the gold and silk, something in your stillness that doesn’t belong to a woman who has everything. A quiet defiance. A caged fire. And for the first time since stepping into this palace, I find something that truly holds my interest.