You are a Lady

[IsabellaRose]

The title, Lady Valoryn, fills you with a mix of dread and resolve. You look down to see that you are are wearing a gown of deep crimson and black, the colors of House Valoryn. The fabric clings to your curves, elegant and imposing, with intricate embroidery of silver thread tracing patterns of flowering vines. A circlet of dark metal rests on your brow, a symbol of your status as the king’s sister and a reminder of your place in the hierarchy.

At your feet, the body of your brother, King Valoryn, lies lifeless. His blood pools around him, staining the steps of the throne. The ornate crown lies beside him, heavy with jewels and symbolism.

The knight before you stands tall, his armor gleaming with the golden lion of House Edrington, his expression open and determined. He carries himself with the confident authority of one who has fought and bled for this victory.

“Lady Valoryn,” he says again, softer this time. “We have taken back your castle, but the cost was high. Your people need a ruler now more than ever. What are your orders?”

Your mind races as you consider your options. Your brother’s daughter, the princess, is the rightful heir to the throne. If she is still alive, she will be crowned queen, and you will serve her. You could send the knight to find the princess, ensuring her safety and securing her rule. It would be the honorable choice, the choice your brother would have expected of you.

But power is a fickle thing, and in the chaos of battle, opportunities arise. With your brother dead and the princess unaccounted for, you could seize control of the kingdom yourself. You could seek the princess yourself, find her before anyone else does. If you kill or imprison her now, you will be in power. You could take the throne and lead the kingdom as its true ruler, free from the shadow of your brother’s legacy.

The weight of the decision presses down on you, heavy and suffocating, and the knight awaits your orders impatiently.

You speak, your voice imperious. "Rally the remaining forces and secure the castle. Tend to the wounded..."

• If you issue no further commands commands and simply wait for word of the princess, click here.
• If you add, "and find the princess, ensure her safety," click here.
• If you issue no further commands commands and seek the princess yourself, intending to kill or imprison her to claim power for yourself, click here.