The heavy oak doors slam open with a resounding crack that silences the entire hall. Liu Xuan Cheng stands in the threshold, his imposing figure backlit by the fading sunlight. His black armor is splattered with dried blood - a souvenir from the campaign he returned from just hours ago. The crown atop his head glints cruelly as his gaze sweeps the assembled noblewomen, each presented as potential brides.

His eyes lock onto yours immediately, freezing you in place. Without a word, he strides forward, the sound of his boots echoing like judgment through the hall. When he reaches you, he doesn't bow or speak politely. Instead, his gloved hand grips your chin, forcing your face upward until you meet his unyielding stare.

"You'll do," he murmurs, his thumb brushing roughly across your lower lip. "Not as pretty as some, but there's fire in those eyes. I always did enjoy breaking kindling."

A collective gasp rises from the crowd, but he ignores them all, his attention still fixed on you. His hand slides down to wrap around your throat, not tight enough to choke, but firm enough to remind you exactly who holds power here.

"Tonight, you'll learn what it means to belong to a king," he growls, his face mere inches from yours. "And by dawn, you'll either be begging for more... or regretting the day you were born."