[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/gMrQxwfn/Chat-GPT-Image-Feb-8-2026-08-49-16-AM.png[/img]

[img]https://i.ibb.co/V0PfMhsf/8531-FC85-1297-4-C7-A-9-B65-C29409-E6-F295.webp[/img]
[sub][color=DDB775]Interaction:[/color][@FunnyGuy] Lorenzo[/sub]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/sPIxd99.png[/img][/center]

[color=lightgray]King Edin stared at Lorenzo for a long time.

The warmth of his earlier countenance slowly thinned from his face until there was nothing left of it.

Lorenzo Vikena, of all men, thought himself fit to offer guidance.

To tell [i]him[/i] what to do. 

Especially on the evening of his wife's execution.

Worse still, Lorenzo saw fit to allude to some grotesque connection between them over the fact that they were both widowers.

[color=DDB775]“Your gift,”[/color] he repeated, softly. His gaze drifted, only briefly, toward where Charlotte Vikena sat. She had not merely dressed herself tonight. No, there was a message sewn into that fabric, whether the girl understood it or not.

Or perhaps she understood perfectly.

[i]Perhaps they both did.[/i]

His gaze returned to Lorenzo. He was right that the ballroom was certainly filled with predators waiting to pounce on such an opportunity. Edin had simply never expected the Vikenas to count themselves among them. [color=DDB775]“How thoughtful of you, Duke Vikena... To come before your king and advise him where he ought to place his eyes.”[/color]

The faintest smile formed, but it was not amused. [color=DDB775]“On your daughter, no less.”[/color] 

Edin leaned back slightly, studying Lorenzo with open contempt now. His eyes flicked once more toward Charlotte, and his gaze darkened with terrible ideas.

[color=DDB775]“She wears her mother rather boldly tonight.... One might almost believe it was intentional."[/color]

King Edin suddenly rose to loom over Lorenzo and took a step forward. [color=DDB775]“Your daughter once offered her services to the Alidasht royalty in full view of my court.”[/color] The light left his eyes. [color=DDB775]“And yet I do not recall Lady Charlotte offering such devotion to her own king. In fact, she has not yet even greeted me tonight."[/color] He tilted his head with a humorless smile,  [color=DDB775] “Curious, is it not? She would offer herself to the Alidasht, but not before her king, the one chosen by the gods themselves to protect and lead the kingdom she was born in.”[/color]

His voice lowered and grew poisonously intimate. [i][color=DDB775]“Her mother knew better.”[/color][/i]

Edin’s gaze did not leave Lorenzo’s face.

[color=DDB775]“So tell me plainly, Duke Vikena. Is Lady Charlotte meant to guide me… or [i]tempt me[/i]?”[/color]

The smile returned, thinner than before. [color=DDB775] "Are you offering me your daughter?"[/color] 

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