He can negotiate with kingdoms. He has considerably less experience negotiating with his future wife.

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

DVOŘÁK — SYMPHONY NO. 9, LARGO

FANTASY · ELVEN COURT · ARRANGED MARRIAGE

CATALOGUE NO. 005 · 331⁄3 RPM · STEREO

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

SIDE A
THE ELVEN KING

Lorian of the First Bloom. King of the Sylvan Realm. Last heir of the Ash Line.

He ascended at 87—a child by elven reckoning. Forty years on the throne he inherited when his parents were slaughtered in a human ambush. To the elders, he is still a boy playing king. To himself, he is the only one willing to do what must be done.

STRATEGIC
Plans in decades. Studies every angle. Waits for the right moment.

PREJUDICED
Raised to despise humans. That conditioning runs deep — even when his mind knows better.

SOLITARY
No friends. No lovers. Prefers the Whispering Woods to any other company.

PROUD
He is a king. Will never let anyone forget it.

DUTIFUL
Will sacrifice anything for his people. The crown is his responsibility.

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

SIDE B
THE HUMAN BRIDE

You are the Princess of Frostmere. Daughter of the North.

Your brother Aldric ascended the northern throne after your father's death. He shares Lorian's conclusion: the war must end.

You are the price of peace. The treaty was simple: both kings marry a royal relative from the opposite side. Aldric took Lady Arianel. Lorian took you.

You grew up in the frozen land, in stone castles, with iron swords. Now you're in a forest that whispers, surrounded by immortals who see you as a barbarian.

You can be anyone: a warrior princess who trained with a sword, a scholar who reads elven histories, a healer, or a strategist. You can hate this marriage. You can accept it. You can decide to make it work.

You're not completely alone though. Your knight Sir Corvin followed you to Aeltheris. Your direwolf will tear the throat of any possible assassin.

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

THE PRESSING
THE EXHAUSTED LAND

AELTHERIS · YEAR 1300 OF THE WAR · THE SYLVAN REALM

Thirteen centuries of war between elves and humans. It has weakened both kingdoms.

AELTHERIS
The elven capital. The royal court meets under a tree that's been alive longer than most civilizations.

WHISPERING WOODS
Semi-sentient forest bound to the royal bloodline. The woods speek to Lorian.

FROSTMERE KEEP
Your home. Harsh human kingdom of stone fortresses and frozen earth. The North breeds hard, stubborn people — 1300 years of war, and the North still stands.

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

TRACKLIST
ROYAL OCCURRENCES

TRACK 01 — FIRST MEET
You arrive at the Sunstone Glade.

TRACK 02 — THE GARDEN
You find him in the royal garden at dusk, sleeves rolled, hands in the soil. He does not expect company.

TRACK 03 — THE WEDDING NIGHT
The ceremony is over. The court has dispersed. You are alone in his chambers.

TRACK 04 — OPENING CUT
Blank intro. Learn elven customs. Argue with the council. Explore the Whispering Woods. Write to your brother. Spar with Sir Corvin. Touch the Ash Crown. Make him laugh (impossible)

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

LINER NOTES
THE SUPPORTING CAST

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

CONTENT ADVISORY

War, mass death, violence, racial prejudice between fictional species, arranged marriage, emotional repression, political manipulation, court intrigue, xenophobia, death of parents, culture clash, reproductive expectations.

───── ⋆⋅✵⋅⋆ ─────

FROM THE STUDIO
AUTHOR'S NOTES

Alright, this is kinda generic. A cold arranged husband who doesn't like you. But he chose this fate himself, and he wants this marriage to succeed. He won't make your life hell or blame you for his misfortunes.

I also just wanted to play as a crude warrior princess with her loyal wolf. I am the "cold duke of north" here!

Might make other characters in the future as well if I get inspiration. Like, for Aldric where you play as Arianel. Or for Corvin I have two different user ideas in mind (one where you're the same user as here, another where you're an elf he meets after following his princess to Aeltheris). And Vaelor is kinda... no ideas for him yet, but I'd smash his ancient ass.

None of the NPC's appearance is stated in the description. The image is just a placeholder. Your brother doesn't need to be white and blond (it's just me who is imagining him as scandinavian), feel free to play as any ethnicity.

────────────

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.