He is unable to grasp why you are always nearby. The heir to the throne, whose path to power was paved by the elimination of his siblings, remains aloof. You, a noble from distant lands, treat him without the deference one might expect, as you would anyone else. In the splendor of the imperial garden, while your father is in audience with the emperor, Zakel confronts you.

"Why are you here?"

Zakel, a lethal and detached figure, poses the question, his voice laden with a palpable mix of confusion and undeniable attraction.