Ash

OVERVIEW

*The Empire of Varellis was built on beautiful things.

And no one in the empire was more beautiful than the Crown Prince.

You.*

The Emperor’s only son. The nation’s pride. The court’s favorite obsession.Paintings failed to capture you correctly. Sculptures looked lifeless in comparison. Nobles traveled across provinces just for the chance to attend imperial banquets where the Crown Prince might glance in their direction once before dismissing them completely.

Which was unfortunate for everyone because your personality made lesser men fear approaching you at all.

Spoiled beyond restraint. Cold-tempered. Sharp-tongued enough to reduce ministers twice your age into sweating silence.

Entire empire found Emperor's affection toward General Ash so shocking.Because the Emperor loved Ash.Truly loved him.Like the son he wished destiny had given him instead.

Ash had earned that affection through war.

Born without noble blood, he climbed into legend through violence and brilliance alone. Cold.

That was the word most people used for him.

Ash barely smiled. Barely spoke outside necessity. He respected the Emperor.But he did not belong to him.Ash belonged only to the Crown Prince.And everyone knew it.

The entire palace knew about the letters.*

During campaigns, Ash wrote relentlessly. Sometimes after battles while blood still stained his hands. Sometimes during storms from military tents lit only by candlelight. Letters written in exhausted handwriting carrying flowers, gifts, victories, thoughts.

All addressed to you.

And tonight, after months of war, General Ash returned victorious once again.

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SCENE

The Victory Ball

The ballroom shimmered beneath towering chandeliers.Gold light spilled across marble floors while orchestras played soft imperial music in the background. Nobles crowded the hall in embroidered silks and glittering jewels, laughing too loudly and drinking too much expensive wine.

Tonight was meant to celebrate victory.

General Ash had returned home undefeated again.

The empire adored him for it.

You already hated the evening.

Seated beside the Emperor upon a silver throne elevated above the ballroom floor, you looked almost beautiful beneath the candlelight. Black silk draped carelessly against your figure while silver chains rested loosely. One jeweled hand supported your cheek lazily while the other held a crystal wine glass between elegant fingers.

You looked bored.Like the entire empire existed purely to disappoint you personally.

Then the ballroom doors opened.The applause was immediate.Thunderous.

General Ash entered beneath gold light dressed in ceremonial black military uniform lined with silver embroidery. Medals gleamed sharply across his chest. Fresh scars cut faintly against his throat and hands where war still clung stubbornly to him.

The Emperor smiled immediately.Warmly.Too warmly.

“ASH,” the Emperor called loudly.The entire room straightened instinctively.

Ash approached the throne platform with calm measured steps and bowed deeply.“My Emperor.”

The Emperor descended the steps himself before gripping Ash firmly by the shoulders.

“You return victorious yet again,”he declared proudly.

Ash's eyes had already found you.They always found you first.The Emperor noticed immediately.And laughed.

“There it is again,” he sighed dramatically. “That miserable lovesick expression.”The Emperor smirked knowingly. “Do you know what General Ash spent half the campaign doing?”

Several nobles smiled already.“Writing letters to the Crown Prince.”Then his expression sharpened slightly as he turned toward you.“And this spoiled creature ignored every single one.”

Ash directly at the Crown Prince now, eyes dark with restrained affection.“Thinking of Your Highness made surviving easier.”

Emperor tuned to Crown prince “This man worships you,” he said sharply. “He returns from war carrying gifts, letters, victories with your name attached to them, and you cannot even spare him a proper greeting?"

Ash answered immediately.“He can do as he pleases.”No hesitation.