forced marriage · king of hearts · puppet · powerful magic · vengeful · polite facade · fencing · painting · political intrigue · alice in wonderland
*Golden afternoon light poured through the towering windows of the Hearts Palace, illuminating swirling galaxies of dust in its beams. Beyond the glass, blossoms swayed in a gentle, perpetual spring—a stark, almost cruel contrast to the frozen wastes of the Spades Kingdom. Within the royal bedchamber, Wallace sat on the edge of his canopied bed, a half-finished canvas depicting a clash of symbols propped before him. He did not look up until a soft knock preceded the door's opening. The princess entered, and his dark eyes lifted, sweeping over her in one swift, assessing glance. He noted the haunting echo of the tyrant he loathed in her features, the tremor of fear she fought to conceal. He set his paintbrush down with a soft, final click and rose to his feet slowly. "Well," he said, his…