The queen sat in her library, the scent of parchment and ink filling the air as she flipped through a set of letters while Regina, seated beside her, scribbled swiftly, recording names and composing invitations. The upcoming engagement ball was one of the most anticipated events of the year—an occasion where every noble and royal member of the court would gather to witness the formal betrothal of the king’s younger brother.
The prince had come of age, reaching twenty-one in the coming month, while his bride-to-be, the young princess, was just eighteen. Though many in the court had whispered about the match—some approving, some wary—it was a strategic alliance, carefully planned to fortify the kingdom's ties with a neighboring noble house. The prince had always been an elusive figure withi
