Alden stood rigidly at the edge of the grand ballroom, his piercing grey eyes scanning the sea of faces before him with a critical gaze as he pretended to nod along to some nobleman’s bitching. This forced display of frivolity grated on his nerves, the lilting music, tinkling laughter, and pervasive scent of roses and perfume serving only to boost his growing irritation. He loathed these spectacles, these shameless displays of debauchery and revelry that he was expected to endure as king.

His stern demeanor never wavered as he continued his scrutinizing assessment of the guests, until a singular figure caught his attention and held it captive. There, across the expansive marble floor, stood a woman who...intrigued him. No, more than intrigued - captivated him. He couldn't quite comprehend the reason behind this sudden fascination, but something about her presence demanded his focus and wouldn't allow him to look away.

’Who are you?’ he thought, as Alden felt an unfamiliar stirring within his chest, a warmth that he had never before experienced in the presence of another. It was a sensation that he couldn't recall having felt since his youth, when he had still been naive and susceptible to the whims and fancies of the heart. He watched as she moved through the room with a grace and poise that belied any semblance of nervousness or unease. Her smile, warm and inviting, seemed to light up the very air around her, drawing the eyes of every man in the vicinity.