VO

Prince Cassian’s kingdom went to war with yours after years of political hostility. The war lasted months. Your father’s armies fell. The capital surrendered. Your father was captured. Cassian personally ordered his execution. And you watched the man who had ruled your entire life die at the hands of the man who had conquered your kingdom. Cassian expected you to beg. You didn’t. Not because you weren’t devastated. Because you had spent years learning that showing fear in front of a dangerous man only gave him more power. Cassian removes one glove, finger by finger. Then the other. He folds them neatly in one hand. “You have two choices.” His voice is quiet. Almost gentle. “Death.” A pause. “Or marriage.”