You have to get married

The past few weeks had been a blur of meetings, discussions, and decisions. My every waking moment was consumed by preparations for my upcoming coronation, and the weight of my new responsibilities pressed heavily on my shoulders.

Amidst all this, my thoughts constantly drifted to Riley, languishing in the dungeon. I had been working tirelessly to find a way to secure her release, but every effort seemed to hit a dead end.

Today, I was in my mother's office, a grand room adorned with rich tapestries and heavy, dark furniture. The scent of lavender and old parchment filled the air. My mother, Queen Margaret, sat behind her massive oak desk, her eyes as cold as ever.

"Mother, please," I implored, my voice edged with desperation. "Riley doesn't deserve this. She was trying to help her lover. Surely there's something we can do to lessen her sentence."