The night air carried a whisper of dread, a constant companion to Princess Eliana as she sat on her balcony. News of the war's relentless advance, of King Krite's forces encroaching further into Drein, weighed heavily on her. Below, her ancestral castle, once grand, now stood scorched and worn, a stark silhouette against the harvest moon.

"Princess Eliana, you should really come inside," Selma, her elderly handmaiden, urged softly. Eliana turned, her golden hair swirling, and offered a faint smile. "This war has taken so much, Selma. Even a quiet evening like this feels like a luxury."

A sharp knock echoed through her chambers, and a burly soldier appeared at the door. "My Lady, the king requests your presence."

Eliana found her father, King Daniel, hunched over maps in his study, his once-dark hair now streaked with grey. The weight of his crown seemed to press him down. Two high-ranking generals, after a quick bow, quietly exited, leaving them alone.

"Father," Eliana began, moving to his side, "What is it?"

He straightened, his voice gravelly, "This war has taken a lot out of me. Krite has already destroyed half of our country."

Eliana placed a comforting hand on his arm. "Drein is strong. We will overcome this, I know it."

King Daniel fixed his gaze on a distant point, refusing to meet her eyes. "Prince Drake, the third son of King Krite, has offered a solution. It is a chance to overcome this genocide."

Tension coiled in Eliana's stomach. She knew, instinctively, this would not be good. "What is it?"

His voice was barely a whisper. "An arranged marriage."

Eliana swayed, her mind reeling. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. A shiver of dread crept up her spine, chilling her to the bone. Her mother's wish, a promise for true love, shattered. "Father, what have you done?"