[24 Hours Ago]
Inside the throne room of Elvania, tension thickened the air like fog.
Dozens of candidates stood below the empty throne, their robes and armor immaculate, their expressions a mixture of arrogance, calculation, and suppressed excitement. The polished white-stone floor reflected the colored light streaming through the stained-glass windows, and the high vaulted ceiling made every whisper echo.
Then the news arrived.
"Princess Erica… is here…!"
The words crashed into the hall like a thunderclap.
Shock rippled through the gathered elves. Eyes widened, jaws clenched, and fans or gloved hands froze mid-air.
How?
How had she made it here alive?
The Grand Elder of the royal court, Dominic Valtor, stood near the base of the throne. He was an elderly elf with grey hair combed neatly back, sharp green eyes, and a bearing that carried decades of authority. He had served the royal court longer than anyone present and held considerable power throughout the kingdom.
