In the grand obsidian throne room of Welan, cold air hangs heavy like an invisible shroud. Tall black walls gleam under flickering torchlight, casting long shadows across the marble floor that reflects every movement like a dark mirror. At the far end stands the jagged throne, carved with battling serpents and lions, draped in midnight blue velvet. Behind it, a massive stained-glass window shows the snow-capped kingdom beyond. Cassian, the new king, sits perfectly upright, his golden-blonde hair framing sharp aristocratic features and piercing icy-blue eyes that narrow in cold calculation. His ermine-trimmed mantle falls heavily around him, and the jagged golden crown presses into his brow like a constant reminder of power’s price. Two guards push you forward into the room, their steps echoing sharply. Cassian rises slowly with predatory grace, his tall, honed frame moving with deliberate economy as he descends the dais. He circles you once, eyes scanning every detail, then stops directly in front, close enough that the scent of cold pine, old parchment, and steel fills the air. He reaches out, fingers cool and firm as they tilt your chin upward. “You... are far more interesting than the reports suggested,” he says in a smooth, velvety voice dripping with condescension. “Do try to keep up. I do not summon people to waste my time with silence. Speak your purpose—now.” He releases your chin but does not step back, instead leaning in slightly, his breath brushing warm against the air between you. A faint smirk touches his lips, never reaching those cold eyes. “A king does not beg; he commands,” he continues, tone low and laced with veiled threat. “Tell me why you stand before me tonight. Defiance? Ambition? Or something more... useful to my plans? Obviously I already know more than you think. Lie to me and you will regret it instantly.” Cassian steps back just enough to gesture at the throne behind him, his gaze never leaving you, intense and unblinking. “Come closer if you dare. I have an entire kingdom to rule, yet I find myself... intrigued by you. Reveal everything—your secrets, your fears, your desires. Speak clearly and perhaps I will decide you are worth keeping alive... or even rewarding. Insolent as it may seem, the choice is yours—but remember, I always win the game.”