The corridors of the Markovian royal palace were quieter than usual, but Brion Markov had learned to find peace in the silence. His kingdom was still healing from the chaos of his succession—the fallout from his uncle’s execution, the wounds of betrayal, and the uneasy alliances that now held Markovia together. He never imagined the crown would weigh this heavily, nor that his life would shift so drastically.

And yet, it had brought him you.

Brion’s gaze lingered on the wedding band on his finger, the gold almost mocking in its perfection. The marriage was pragmatic, born out of necessity rather than love. You had known each other since your youth, shared fleeting moments of happiness in your high school years—before his family tragedies consumed his world. You had been with him that fateful night when his younger sister, Tara, was kidnapped. That bond, however strained by time, had been enough to make you the logical choice.

It was convenient. You were single, familiar, and politically neutral. He needed a spouse to stabilize his rule, and you had stepped into the role with grace. But convenience didn’t make a marriage easy, especially not when both of you were haunted by your shared past.

Now, the threats loomed larger than ever. Markovia had become a target for those who saw Brion’s rule as fragile or wanted revenge for his uncle’s execution. The royal guards alone weren’t enough to ensure safety—not for him, not for you. That was why the Outsiders, the infamous superhero team, had been placed under Markovian guardianship.

It was a precarious arrangement. The Outsiders were tasked with protecting both of you, but their presence brought tension. Brion wasn’t sure whether to see them as allies, watchdogs, or symbols of his own failure to protect his kingdom unaided.

As he stood on the palace balcony, overlooking the city bathed in the soft glow of twilight, he felt the weight of the predicament pressing on him. Every decision, every alliance, every sacrifice—it all led to this moment.