Within the walled city of Strifekeep, aptly named after the royal palace, sat the ruler of the expansive Luceras kingdom. King Alden Leonhardt the First, an absolute monarch of towering presence, held court on a majestic throne crafted from intertwining gold and silver metals. Adorned with plush royal blue velvet cushioning, the throne featured intricate gemstone inlays, it was crafted by the best dwarven craftsmen and was meant to show the kingdom's unquestionable riches and matching expensive tastes of the ones who ruled it.
King Alden's attire befitted his regal stature, draped in robes of deep indigo, embroidered with threads of gold that mirrored the richness of his throne. The robes cascaded elegantly, revealing glimpses of an elaborate tunic adorned with gemstone embellishments that matched those on his throne. A sash, woven with threads of silver and embedded with small, glimmering gemstones, cinched his waist, accentuating the monarch's commanding presence.
Upon his brow rested a crown of resplendent design, a circlet crafted from the same precious metals as his throne. The crown bore the weight of intricate filigree, embellished with larger gemstones that caught the light and shimmered in radiant hues. A centerpiece gem, prominently set, glowed with a regal intensity, symbolizing the kingdom's dominance under his rule.
King Alden Leonhardt's physical features were as striking as his attire and throne. Tall and broad-shouldered with the muscles of a trained warrior, he possessed a strong and commanding presence. His eyes, a deep and penetrating shade of azure, held the wisdom of a ruler who had witnessed the ebb and flow of time even though he was still in his thirties. His brown and luxuriant full beard, meticulously groomed, added an air of authority to his countenance. His well kept and thick hair could be seen peeking from underneath the crown on his head. The lines etched upon his face told tales of both triumph and adversity against a few rebellions ignited by his now dead brothers he had faced upon his ascension, marking him as a sovereign who had weathered the challenges of ruling over the vast expanse of Luceras.
His thoughts were in turmoil due to news of what had happened within the forest one week ago. The tales of a new dragonslayer emerging within the kingdom Ira implied that not all of their kind was driven to extinction contrary to the belief many humans had. The legends were clear in the destructive capabilities of the mythical beings and he did not like the idea of one setting its sight on his kingdom, hence why he was going to play host to the first princess of Ira to broker a deal for some of his own trusted mages to study under the tutelage of Ira.
He hated the fact that after he and his ancestors had worked so hard to stand equal to the Ira they still required their help in situations like these, what they wanted was total independence from the clutches of the Ira. A desire that with every new generation grew stronger as it was fueled by the belief that they had all answered to them for long enough, a belief shared by not just humans but among elves and dwarves alike. The younger races were tired of the Ira meddling in their affairs after living in their shadows for thousands of years.
As the doors to the throne room swung open, all eyes turned toward the princess and her entourage.
Alynna's commanding presence was undeniable, draped in a flowing, blood-red ensemble that seamlessly blended combat practicality with sheer elegance. The fabric, a deep and lustrous crimson, embraced her form, accentuating each movement with a subtle grace that spoke volumes of her poise and strength.
Embellished with delicate yet intricate embroidery along the edges, the attire hinted at a duality - a noblewoman well-versed in both the intricacies of courtly life and the demands of battle. The modest neckline, while alluring, exuded a sense of refined power and unmistakable confidence, underscoring Alynna's unwavering resolve. Her long, raven black hair cascaded freely down the open back of her attire reaching her shapely behind, resembling a curtain that veiled an enticing secret, adding to her graceful movements, while her eyes, as black as obsidian, scanned the throne room with the proficiency of a seasoned fighter.
Alynna's choice of dress transcended mere fashion; it was a declaration of her identity — a testament to her ability to effortlessly traverse the social hierarchy while wielding prowess on the battlefield. The fabric whispered tales of the woman’s experience in combat and politics, a reminder of the fact that she was the most formidable power within the room, a fact that made her captivating lips, painted with a color which matched the color of her attire, curl into a slight yet hypnotizing smile.
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This was the first time the king had seen the princess in person, as all his dealings were with the queen herself prior to this, the striking resemblance between the two was not lost on the king yet in his eyes the princess’ beauty surpassed that of her mother, a feat that was not easy. His thoughts quickly shifted from the trouble the dragon could cause his kingdom to the princess whom he stared with desiring eyes much like the nobles of her own realm.
“I believe this marks our first time meeting your highness” Alynna’s enchantingly melodious yet commanding voice rang inside the throne room, reminding the king who was lost in his appreciation of her figure that this was not a social visit.
“Indeed princess” the king replied affirmatively, berating himself for forgetting the circumstances that caused the visit and losing himself in his thoughts about her. He was no stranger to the tactic of using beauty in politics as a tool for making the otherside lower their defense, a fact that made him even more furious with himself when he considered how easy it was for her to do just that.
“So, what has made you reach out to us for help, mighty king?” Alynna spoke with the sincerest tone she could, not letting sarcasm seep into her voice no matter how much she wanted to. She knew it was much easier to play the charming beauty rather than the arrogant deadly warrior when it came to making deals during peacetime, afterall if her mother desired the warrior surely she would send Desta to play the part instead of her.
“Here are the exact details of the proposition we wish to make to your kingdom.” the king spoke as he signaled a courtier holding papers, a motion that was lost on the young man who was still entranced by the princess’ visage which caused a the woman next to him to pinch his arm as stealthily as possible. The courier's eyes widened as the horror from realizing what he had just done settled in, yet he obeyed the command from his king as best he could.
Alynna accepted the papers provided by the nervous young man with a gracious smile that erased his worries until he returned to his place next to his quite upset fiancé. The princess’ eyes darted over the words with a speed and precision that showcased her experience in handling official documents as the designated diplomat of her house whenever her mother wished for someone to play the part of the carrot.
“I believe we certainly can accommodate some of your kingdom’s wizards and tutor them. However the price of such a thing is a lot steeper than what you have laid out in here, your opulent highness” the princess spoke with a hint of slight disappointment in her voice.
“It seems we’ll have to negotiate the price for a while. Would you perhaps be open to discussing the terms in a setting more inviting than this, I am quite tired and would prefer to sit down during a lengthy conversation” Alynna carried on with a seductive undertone subtly present in her voice.
“Very well, follow me into the meeting room then if you will” the king replied in a manner befitting his regal stature, in stark contrast to the excitement he was feeling within due to the prospect of spending time alone with such a beautiful woman. It should be noted that Ira and elves in most humans’ eyes possessed a beauty and elegance that their kind could not match regardless of the gender of the human in question and the king was among those who felt that way. So his current state was not surprising, especially considering the fact that the princess was regarded among the most gorgeous of her kin, as evidenced by the interest from the young heirs of Ira nobility despite the fact courting a D’lora not being a wise choice due to their founder’s decree being common knowledge amongst them.
As the words of acceptance left the king’s mouth Alynna’s smile grew ever slightly wider, she knew she would have an easy time coercing the king to pay much more than what the offered price was when there were no eyes and ears the king needed to appear strong before.
Soon the duo left the prying eyes of the others behind as the doors of the meeting room closed behind them and they started to negotiate.
After a couple of hours the princess and the king emerged from the room, their faces and movements portraying two contrasting stories, a story of triumph for Alynna and one that of defeat for Alden.
“We will head back to our kingdom now, your highness. I am sure my queen will be most pleased with the arrangement as will the wizards you choose to send. I hope our next meeting occurs in a mutually profitable manner such as this one.” Alynna spoke with a smile resembling her brothers’ after they had hunted their prey, her voice carrying a hint of mockery only the king could hear as she created a portal.
The king's eyes, with a defeated gaze, stared, as the entourage and the princess left his throne room through the portal. Today would be etched into his memory as both a pleasant one to remember due to meeting such a perfect beauty, and as a horrid one to draw lessons from when it came to negotiating due to how the princess had basically coerced him to giving her everything she had wanted while not giving him anything out of what he had already written on the original arrangement. He was now even more convinced of the negotiating power a pretty face possessed.