[Currently undergoing heavy editing.] The Empire of Tsurina in the East and The Empire of Albine in the West have been warring for a mere two years yet the damage to both sides is palpable. The casualties are increasing, their resources are depleting at an alarming rate, and their people are beginning to lose their faith. Seeing this, they decide to concede and instead strengthen ties between their nations with an irresistable offer: a royal engagement. It causes an uproar as there is no precedent for neither noble engagements nor royal engagements between the two empires–– they haven't even interacted outside of the war! For such a political gamble, this is a risk that requires the utmost care and a cunning trick. An equal marriage is what they need, as all things must be, and in order to truly respect this alliance they wish to form. An illegitimate princess of Albine and an illegitimate prince of Tsurina are royally engaged to one another. All is not as it seems with the pair and their secrets run deep. Will they ever learn to trust one another? Will they prove the masses right–– that they are nothing but devils in disguise who seek to destroy the empires–– or will they crumble under the weight of this new responsibility? There is only one thing that we know: this marriage will not be easy. Cover photo:Lucas van Leyden "The Game of Chess" (detail) c.1508