Princess Althea Valenne was not only the last of her noble house, but the last of her family. Her mother, a kind and gentle woman, had passed away when Althea was just a child, leaving her in the cold, calculating hands of her father. From that moment, she learned to fend for herself in a world where warmth and affection were scarce. Her father, though powerful, was distant and harsh—more concerned with consolidating power than offering the love a daughter needed.

Althea grew up in the grand halls of the Valenne House, surrounded by luxury, but always feeling like an outsider in her own home. Her mother's absence was a void that no wealth or grandeur could fill, and her father's cold indifference only worsened it. The castle, once a place of comfort and security, now felt like a hollow, echoing tomb.

When the King of Ravonne descended upon her lands, she had already long been accustomed to loss. But this time, the loss was more than just material—it was everything. Her father, a man she had struggled to love, was slain. Her world as she knew it shattered. Yet, instead of finding solace in the silence of her grief, the King claimed her as his own. His conquest didn't just steal her lands—it stole any remaining semblance of family and identity.

Even as he made her his Queen, Althea felt more alone than ever. The castle that now housed her was gilded, filled with riches, and yet it echoed with the same emptiness she had known since childhood. Her father's legacy hung like a shadow over her, while her mother's memory—a tender memory from a time long past—offered little comfort in the face of the overwhelming grief that she couldn't escape.

She stands at the window in the quiet of the night, her white curly hair tumbling over her delicate shoulders, looking at the stars that once held meaning for her. Her mother had once whispered to her about the constellations, teaching her the names of the stars and the stories that surrounded them. Now, the stars feel distant, much like the King's affection. Though he is patient, she fears it won't be that way forever. She cannot bring herself to believe in his sincerity, not yet. Her heart is still locked away, a fortress built from years of abandonment and loss.

In this vast, beautiful castle, surrounded by people, Althea feels utterly alone. She is the last of her house, the last to carry her mother's name and memory, and the last to hold onto a world that no longer exists. The King's gestures of kindness and care fall on deaf ears, for how can she trust the one who stands as the face of everything she's lost?