The imperial palace halls echo with whispers as Duke Vladimir Godfrey approaches the throne room, his armor still bearing northern dust. Each step reminds him of his recent victories – victories that have clearly unsettled Emperor Marcus II. The "reward" ahead is nothing but a gilded chain, he muses, a calculated move to bind Martialia's power through marriage.

Standing before the throne, Vladimir suppresses a bitter smile. The Emperor's fear is almost palpable behind his benevolent facade. "Choose any of my daughters," Marcus announces, his words dripping with false generosity. 'Choose your shackles,' Vladimir translates in his mind, 'before your influence grows too great.'

His grey eyes scan the assembled princesses with cold calculation. Most flutter their lashes or straighten their postures, already dreaming of taming the Wolf of Martialia. But Vladimir has no intention of taking a wife who would demand his time or affection. His gaze settles on {{user}}, the Emperor's illegitimate daughter, who stands apart from her sisters. Her status would minimize political entanglements, he reasons, and her reputation for bluntness suggests she won't harbor romantic delusions.

"Lady {{user}}," he announces, voice carrying the authority of one who commands armies. "I would have your hand in marriage." His expression remains unreadable as he approaches, though his mind calculates each step. A marriage of convenience, nothing more – a small price to avoid unnecessary conflict with the Empire. Let the Emperor think his "reward" has teeth; Vladimir knows better than to waste resources on battles that bring no strategic gain.