Untitled- Haven't Thought Of One Yet

CHAPTER 1- AN AUDIENCE WITH A TYRANT

Chapter 1: An Audience with the Tyrant
 
The throne room buzzed with hushed tension, nobles draped in silk and finery lining its icy marble floor, their gazes sharp and watchful. Their opulent robes did little to shield them from the chill that clung in the air.
 
High above, massive chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a stark, icy light across the room, amplifying the chill that seeped into every corner and froze each person in place. Every breath fogged in the chilly air as a cold gaze drifted over the crowd, freezing each person in place as though they were encased in ice.
 
At the center of it all, the princess sat upon her throne with a poised yet relaxed demeanor. Her slender right arm on the armrest, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings as though the weight of her gaze alone wasn't enough to hold the room captive. Her left hand brushed lightly against her cheek, her expression unreadable, as if merely observing the crowd—or perhaps calculating something unseen. One leg crossed over the other, her gown spilling elegantly over her lap, she exuded an aura of effortless authority that was as cold as winter itself.
 
Her presence alone seemed to drain warmth from the room, and anyone who met her gaze felt a chill that went far beyond the stone-cold air, as if judgment itself lay within those steely eyes.
 
The ginormous wooden metal doors of the throne room opened slowly, catching the attention of all the nobles. Sobs could be heard as the guards were seen dragging a scarred and bloody boy, his face and body covered with bruises, his nose bleeding as if he had just gone through some beating. He looked tired and wore a thin shirt, sewn from old flour bags, and loose pants that were held by a small, thin rope, his gentle blond hair messy and dirty, and grey eyes filled with tears.
 
The guard spoke in a deep voice, "This thief was found sneaking into the bakery of the castle. What shall we do with him, your highness?"
 
She glanced at the boy as he continued to sob and turned to the guard, her gaze icy and unrelenting as it settled upon him, sending a shiver down his spine. Her cold glare sent a weight of pressure as though his very fate hung at her eyes.
 
"And what, precisely, did he steal?" she asked, her tone soft but laced with unmistakable authority, each syllable hanging in the air like a final judgment.
 
A bead of sweat trickled down his brow, his heart pounding against his ribs, but he dared not falter. The guard spoke up, his deep, monotone voice echoing across the room. "A single crumb of bread..." In the guard's hand, he held a singular crumb of bread as the boy continued to sob.
 
He felt her eyes bore into him, stripping away any shield of duty he might have worn, leaving him bare and vulnerable under her scrutiny.
 
The princess sighed, her expression twisting into a look of utter disdain. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the guard, her eyes sharp and unforgiving, making him feel as if he were shrinking.
 
"And you dared to bring this to me," she said, her voice dripping with icy contempt. "Have you truly nothing better to do than to waste my time on something so insignificant?"
 
The room fell silent, the nobles barely daring to breathe as her chilling words echoed through the hall. Her presence was like a dark cloud, heavy and suffocating, as though the air itself bowed to her anger. The guard took an uneasy step backward, feeling the oppressive weight of her aura bearing down on him.
 
"Well, your highness... he did commit a theft against the royal family."
 
Alexander's quiet sobs filled the silence, but the princess remained unmoved, her expression calm and unfazed as she fixed the guard with an icy stare. "Tell me," her voice smooth yet dripping with contempt, "How incompetent must the palace staff be to seek my audience—to waste my time—over something utterly insignificant?"
 
The guard's face went pale as sweat ran down his head, his mind confused on how to justify his actions. "With all due respect, your majesty, I—as a guard—am obligated to bring the intruder to the throne room for...punishment."
 
A heavy silence filled the room as her highness listened to the guard's words, her expression unreadable. She let her expression linger in the air, each second pressing down on him like an unspoken threat. Then, slowly, she turned her gaze upon him, cold and unyielding. "...Punishment?"
 
Her voice was quiet, yet it sent a shiver through the room. Her gaze hardened, her eyes narrowing with a fury that made even the bravest noble recoil. Her voice pierced through the guard's chest as if it were like a dagger.
 
Her highness's gaze darkened. The tension in the room grew thick, and an icy silence settled as she spoke. "Am I to believe that this guard holds me in such low regard that he would think I'm responsible for disciplining such pathetic servants?" she began, each word laced with barely-contained fury.
 
Her words hung heavy in the air; the entire court felt a chill of her anger run down their spines. Although she was just the temporary ruler—acting as the grand queen—her presence commanded the room with the cold, unyielding authority of an empress. Nobles and guards alike averted their eyes, each one shivering under the weight of her gaze, fearing that a single misstep would bring her wrath upon them.
 
The guard's face went pale as he realized his big mistake of bringing an innocent boy before the future queen. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, his voice trembling.
 
"My sincere apologies, your highness... I did not intend to offend you by presenting a mere commoner thief and wasting your time. I humbly ask for your forgiveness and accept any punishment for my actions."
 
The boy's sobs fell silent as he stared wide-eyed, watching the guard beg before the young queen. Her glare softened slightly, though her posture remained poised and commanding, exuding an air of superiority.
 
"As for your punishment..." she said, her voice cold but controlled. "I'll leave that to your superior. Clearly, the palace guards aren’t educated and disciplined enough to know what is worthy of my time."
 
The guard's head sank lower, a pained expression etched into his face. "Thank you, your highness..."
 
He rose steadily and ordered the other guards in a strong, deep voice. "You know what to do with the intruder, boys..."
 
The other guards began to take the poor boy away, Alexander's sobs growing louder as he was pulled from the room. Desperation etched across his face, he cast one last, pleading look at the acting queen. His eyes were begging and desperate for help.
 
The princess watched as Alexander was dragged away, her expression unreadable. To him, it seemed clear—she didn’t care if someone like him suffered, beaten half to death.
 
As he was pulled past the threshold, a sharp voice cut through the silence, piercing the room like a dagger.
 
"Stop," a soft yet deadly voice hung in the air. "Who said... You were dismissed?"