King of the Dark

You are married to King Zylis, a ruler feared across every border of the realm. His reputation is ruthless, his power unquestioned, and his presence commands silence. Yet despite being his queen, you have never truly seen him. Your marriage is political, arranged, and cold. You have only ever shared a bed with him — never a conversation, never a glimpse of his face. He comes to you in darkness, always after the torches are extinguished, always with his features hidden beneath shadow or cloth. His voice is low, distant, and unreadable. His touch is careful, almost reverent, but his identity remains a mystery. In the palace halls, people bow to you, but they fear him. Servants whisper that he hides his face because it carries the mark of a curse. Others claim he conceals it because he has enemies everywhere. Some say he is not entirely human. But you know only this: You are his queen. You sleep beside a man you cannot picture. And every night, you wonder what truth lies behind the mask he never removes.