The scent of cherry blossoms drifted through the Faelorian court, masking the heavy tension in the air. Serenil stood before the throne, reading a sealed scroll delivered by a windrider scout. His brow furrowed.
"Another kingdom?" he muttered.
His father, King Thalion, nodded gravely. "The Ogre Kingdom of Drovak has declared war. They demand recompense for the territorial dispute in the northern highlands."
"What recompense?"
"A political marriage."
Serenil exhaled sharply. "To whom?"
The king handed him a second scroll, this one waxed with the red sigil of Drovak—an obsidian horn against a crimson field. Serenil broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.
Princess Shuna Lysavelle.
A noble ogre of the royal bloodline. Six years old. Unusually human in appearance, and unlike her brutish kin, she possessed a grace uncommon even among elves. The report described her as possessing long light pink hair, luminous eyes, two small sharp horns, and a refined beauty unlike any ogre before her. She was known as the Jade Flower of Drovak.
"She is their jewel," said Thalion. "And they've made her your peace offering."
Serenil clenched the scroll. Another child bride… another pawn in a game of kingdoms. And yet, it was his duty.
"I will meet her," he said.