A servant trembled, wearing all black and pale as a sheet with fear as they gingerly entered the throne room. The man didn’t dare lift his gaze from the black marble at his feet as he walked with purpose towards the ever-growing and intimidating presence of his master. In his hands he held a silver platter and a cream envelope. It was sealed with red wax and the impression of three feathers. Once he stood at his master’s feet he lowered to both knees and held the platter up above his head. 

Kick. 

A large boot kicked him in the chest and sent him hurtling several feet backward. The servant landed on the floor with a whimper, grateful to be dismissed so quickly, and scrambled for the exit. He didn’t need to look to see the platter was empty and that the letter was now in the hands of his oppressive ruler. Only once the throne room was empty, did the sound of paper being sliced open fill the hall for a swift moment. 

“For the attention of your dark eminence.” Hands encased in black gloves held the letter open before the roaring brazier in the bowls of Mount Khorduar. The voice that spoke the words haunted the room like a poltergeist was reading, rather than a man. He reclined comfortably in his dark throne and empty hall, a silver goblet of wine to his right on a small wooden table. “This will sound most odd, but I am Princess Heloise Mordwin of Oscaria. I should like to formally invite you to a grand ball taking place on the night of the Winter’s solstice. With this letter, I send you the royal seal to use to gain entry to Castle Salkire.” He paused, and retrieved a golden fabric piece of material the size of a bookmark, and woven with real golden thread. “Hmmm.” He hummed curiously, and read on. “I sincerely hope you attend the Winter solstice Gala. If you choose to attend, I would be bold enough to say I shall hope to converse with you and perhaps share in a dance. Kind regards, Princess Heloise.” 

He read the letter again and lifted his yellow and orange eyes to stare at the flames of the brazier in the middle of the throne room. He hummed, curious at the appearance of this invitation, and wondered if it was really from the Princess of the country neighbouring his, or a rouse to get him to attend. After all? The last time he set foot in Oscaria, it had been to place his boot through the skull of their King. “The younger brother took the throne, I believe.” He rubbed his chin and hummed in thought. If the brother took the throne, then in truth, he’d killed the uncle of the woman who supposedly invited him to this royal ball. “Why not?” He chuckled and his triangular cat-like pupils dilated with glee. “I have been very bored as of late? Either way, I shall be entertained.” He looked off to one side and did the math quickly. “I have a week to prepare for every eventuality. Bloody and otherwise.” 

He blew air through puckered lips and the chilled air twisted across the throne room to cause a bell to jingle. A servant would cower into the room within the next minute or two. They would take down his dictated reply and post his RSVP back to Princess Heloise. Or whoever really wrote to him. “I shall take my best staff. I haven’t had an excuse to dust it off in quite some time.” He smirked and lifted his gaze when the door opened and the same servant from earlier came through as a shivering mess. 

One week later. 

This is going to go well. Heloise told herself as she manically paced back and forth in her chambers. She was already dressed and ready for the winter solstice ball. Her long-sleeved smock was creamy brown, and her kertle was a rich mahogany brown which opened at the front from the belt at her waist to show the smock beneath. Her delicate shoes matched her kirtle, and the sleeves of which hung down from her elbows to show the cream sleeves beneath as they looped around her middle fingers. The top of her long brown hair was taken straight back and held in place with a golden disc-shaped hair clasp. The rest hung thickly down her back, and she felt her thick mane sway as she paced. Upon her head was a golden crown which was modest in size to reflect she was not the King, Queen, crown regent, or even the eldest princess. Heloise had two older brothers and two older sisters. She was the fifth and second to the youngest royal child, though she was the only heir not to be married. The crown prince and future King of Oscaria, Ishtan, married first Princess Anilla of Tajan. She will be his future Queen and rule beside her eldest brother, and had already given him two sons, Aylard and Wyngard. Prince Balan married shortly afterwards to the very wealthy and influential Lord Chamberlain’s daughter, Duchess Emmalina, but as of yet they had only one daughter, Loreena. Her eldest sister Princess Rosa married Prince Rauffe, the third prince of Epria, and have together sired Kester, Payton, and Bellina. Her youngest sister, beautiful Osanna, was married not four months ago to Duke Nicholas of Laudren. She’s already with child. 

Heloise was the last royal child left, unmarried, and not because she was unwilling. She came to a stop in front of a mirror and looked at herself with a frown. I’m a handsome enough girl, I’m sure. I’m just not as breathtaking as my sisters are. Or most of the royal court. She had thin rounded lips, honey brown eyes and thick brown hair. Her mother, Queen Hosianna, was a real beauty and passed on to all her other daughters the pale skin, midnight black hair as soft as silk, and piercing blue eyes. Even her brothers shared these features. Heloise however, looked like her father. Thick brown hair that did not obey her, brown eyes, and well? Plain. Not, unattractive plain, but comparatively plain when stood beside the royal family. And all her life, Heloise had compared herself to her mother and siblings. She never grasped things as easily as they did. She was never as at home with the ton as they were. She didn’t share similar interests with any of her family, and she usually put off any suitor that was guided towards her within five minutes. Heloise found speaking was the best way to put off noble suitors. She was far too educated for their liking and talked more than necessary when nervous. She wasn’t actively defiant or overly talkative. Nor was she trying to avoid becoming married. Heloise had even tried to speak as little as she could, taking the nod and smile approach, but she still failed to attract a husband. Quite a feat, considering she was a princess with a significant dowry attached to her title. Prince Rauffe was originally invited to the palace to meet her, and he decided he rather preferred her younger sister instead. He even courted her for two years before they finally wed. I can’t blame him. Rosa is beautiful and her laugh is like a bird’s song. 

Right now Heloise’s mind was galloping like a thousand spooked horses as she worried about her actions. Any moment she would be summoned to descend to the ballroom. She chewed her bottom lip and resumed pacing with a whimper of worry. She didn’t know what worried her the most. That her special guest would be there, or he wouldn’t come at all. 

Being the smart girl that she was, Heloise knew they were on the verge of war with Seclya. The cold war between them had been going on for as long as she’d been alive, but in the last year, the number of close calls was escalating. Raiding parties here. Infringements on Oscaria borders there. Missing patrols, seized shipments, and of course, infiltration units made it into the palace three times in as many months. The servants’ talk, which is why Heloise knew that last time the assassin nearly made it to her parents’ bed chamber before being apprehended. They were subsequently beheaded. Heloise had engaged her father many times for a glimpse into what caused this increased aggression, and how he intended to stop it. But King Oscar simply changed the topic or told her plainly that such matters were none of her concern. 

I am a princess of Oscaria, and if there is something I can do to protect my people, I shall do it. 

Heloise questioned the royal librarian, every member of the high council that she could, and eventually got a very damning picture. Seclya were mobilising their armies along Oscaria’s borders, and an invasion was imminent. And yet, they were going ahead with a damn winter ball?! Really?!? What she managed to glean about their own forces did not reassure her. It had been so long since Oscaria had gone to war, that they were not prepared or capable of withstanding the full force of a well-prepared army. 

Heloise had lost many nights to anxiety over the coming war, and the apparent lack of urgency in the palace. Even her mother didn’t wish to talk of such things with her. 

Yet, one day a few weeks ago, her mother made a flippant comment to Heloise that kept her awake that night. 

“We are not going to war Heloise. Oscaria has not faced war since before you were born.” 

“But mother we-”

“The battle of Nimwen verge brought our patrols to a head with the Seclyian recon scouts, and they were both annihilated by that ghastly beast for invading his territory.”

“G…ghastly beast? What Ghastly beast?” 

“The Wraith King.” 

She mulled it over for days, reading every scrap she could about the most feared creature in all the lands. The Wraith King. A Warlock who made a deal with the infernal spirits of the Abyss for power unlike any could ever fathom through natural means. Oscaria had court mages and enchanters, of course, but the Wrath King was something else. Heloise was not gifted with magic herself, but she’d watched the fantastic displays of magic from her privileged position at many banquets. From what she read of the Wraith King, he was in a league above all others. The battle her mother referred to? Was ended with one single spell. His dark eminence raised his hand and both Oscarian and Seclyian writhed in agony. Within seconds they were nothing but ash. 

Aaaaaand I’ve invited this man to the Winter Solstice ball.  

Heloise gasped and pressed her hands anxiously to her chest as the heavy wooden doors to her private chambers opened. One of her ladies in waiting, and her dearest friend, Lady Arlette Bellbow. Her sandy blonde hair was braided from her central parting to make a crown around her head, and hung long over her left shoulder. She had bright green eyes, lovely pink lips and filled her blue dress very nicely. Arlette was her dearest friend and her only confidant. Which is exactly why she was also the only person who knew what Heloise was planning. 

“It’s time, your highness. Are you…sure about this?” Arlette looked understandably worried. The blonde had worriedly paced her royal chambers for many hours since she declared her intentions and asked for her support. Begging Heloise to reconsider, and failing to convince her. In the end, all she could resolve herself to do, was support her princess instead. 

“Yes.” No, not at all. Heloise put on a brave smile and offered her hand to her lady in waiting to escort her. “Let us see if my labours have been fruitful. Shall we?” 

“Yes my princess. Of course.”