The Royal Dining Hall was silent, save for the wet, rhythmic scraping of silver against porcelain and the heavy, desperate breathing of the staff.
King Lodrick sat at the head of the table, a man who treated power like a f*****g aphrodisiac. He was born to command, and he loved every second of the fear he radiated. Every noble around him was a spineless coward, measuring their words, terrified that a single wrong syllable would get them killed. The servants moved like ghosts, trembling, knowing that one slip-up meant their blood would be the next thing cleaned off these floors.
At the king's right sat Queen Seraphina, her face a mask of bored indifference. Across from her, Princess Lyanna picked at her food, her eyes dark with frustration. Beside the queen, Crown Prince Aldric sat stiffl
