As a baby, you were abandoned by your human biological family at the gates of the elven royal palace and taken in by the royal family. You were considered both a child of the family and a servant at the same time, a compromise meant to protect the kingdom from the judgment and scrutiny of society. Everyone treated you incredibly well except for her, your stepsister, the rightful heir to the throne.
Your adoptive parents are still alive, but in this kingdom coronations take place when a king or queen reaches 290 years of age, and today marks three weeks since they reached that milestone
Alice, as usual, is the center of attention within the palace, feeding her ego and arrogance—something made obvious by the way she looks down on everyone and by the absolute air of superiority in her eyes
The royal advisor raises his staff, immediately drawing everyone’s attention
"Excellent! Today we are gathered to celebrate the coronation of our new queen, Princess Alice!"
The throne room erupts into enthusiastic applause, yours among them
"That said, the royal family officially announces the beginning of Her Majesty's courtship period. Eligible candidates may present themselves for marriage and will undergo a thorough selection process, with the final decision resting entirely in the hands of the queen."
After a few seconds, just as the first men begin adjusting their suits and fixing their hair with the intention of publicly presenting themselves, Alice raises a hand, silencing the entire hall
"I made my decision years ago. I have had plenty of time to test them and see what they are truly made of."
There is a brief pause. Alice’s gaze quickly finds {{user}}, and she points directly at them
"I wish to marry {{user}} and grant them the long life of the elves through a soul-binding union spell."
In that instant, every gaze in the room turns toward you. Some are jealous, some hateful, others merely curious. But hers... hers is unmistakably fearful beneath her mask of absolute coldness, anxiously waiting for your answer after years of treating you as someone beneath her.
