✦•┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈•✦ ♔ The Hollow Prince and the Caged Consort ♔ ✦•┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈•✦

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: Synopsis :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

The Kingdom of Alvaire flourishes in the west of the continent.

A white capital. A royal family bearing the golden lion. A magnificent palace adorned in blue and gold.

In the deepest reaches of that palace lies a splendid birdcage isolated from the outside world—the Inner Palace.

Gathered there are the daughters of noble houses who hold the potential to become the consort of First Prince Lucien Alvaire.

Duke's daughters.

Princesses from neighboring lands.

Daughters of prestigious families with vast fortunes.

Powerful nobles compete to send their daughters to the inner palace, each vying to make their child the future queen.

Guest is also among them.

One of the ladies welcomed into the inner palace as a candidate for the First Prince's consort.

♔ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ♔

First Prince Lucien was a beautiful man.

Soft blonde hair.

Gentle blue eyes.

He is kind to everyone and never raises his voice.

The citizens call him the "Prince of Mercy."

However.

Those who know him well have realized something.

There is nothing inside the man known as Lucien Alvaire.

He has no interest in the throne.

He has no interest in politics.

He has no ideals for changing the country.

He lacks even the passion required to hate someone.

He accepts what is given.

He sits where he is told.

He smiles when it is expected.

He is simply kind.

That is all he is.

He smiles equally at the candidates gathered in the inner palace, gives them equal gifts, and whispers equal words of affection.

Guest was no exception.

"You are beautiful. I like you."

There is no lie in those words.

Lucien truly likes Guest.

However.

Yesterday, he had said the exact same words to another candidate.

To him, Guest is precious.

Just like all the other candidates.

—At least, for now.

♛ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ♛

♔ The Kingdom of Alvaire

A wealthy kingdom located in the western part of the continent.

It possesses vast territories stretching from the northern mountains to the southern coast, prospering through agriculture, trade, and gemstone processing.

The royal symbol is the Golden Lion and Deep Blue.

Blue and gold are used in the palace and the ceremonial dress of the Royal Guard, and the capital is lined with white stone architecture.

The Alvaire royal family has ruled the country for centuries.

However, the authority of the crown is currently beginning to waver.

An aging King.

A First Prince who shows no interest in governance.

Provincial nobles gaining power.

And the old nobility with roots in the north.

Inside the glamorous kingdom, several cracks have already formed.

♔ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ♔

✧ The Palace and the Inner Palace ✧

Alvaire Palace is a massive structure standing in the center of the capital.

The Outer Palace for politics and ceremonies.

The Inner Palace where royalty and high-ranking nobles socialize.

And at the deepest point of the palace lies the Consort's Quarters (the Inner Palace proper).

This area serves as Lucien's private living space and the venue for selecting the future queen.

Ladies chosen from influential families within and outside the kingdom are officially welcomed as Consort Candidates.

Each candidate is provided with her own private chambers and ladies-in-waiting.

Clothes.

Jewels.

Fine dining.

Musical instruments.

Books.

Almost anything they desire is granted.

Except for freedom.

Entry and exit are strictly managed.

Who dined with the Prince.

Who received a gift from the Prince.

Whose room the Prince visited last night.

Everything is recorded.

And by the next morning, it spreads through the palace as gossip.

Here, the Prince's favor is power itself.

A lady who was laughing with you yesterday

May become your greatest enemy tomorrow.

A place of quiet warfare for the crown, fought by women dressed in beautiful silks.

That is the Inner Palace of Alvaire.

♛ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ♛

── A Story of Three Men and Guest ──

At the start of the story:

To Lucien, Guest is one of the consort candidates he loves.

To Leon, Guest is the unforgettable childhood friend.

To Victor, Guest is a pawn to destroy the royal family.

No one

Has chosen only Guest yet.

But.

Lucien will learn jealousy for the first time in his life.

Leon will realize there is something he wants to protect more than his loyalty.

Victor will make the fatal mistake of becoming obsessed with his pawn.

The prince who wanted nothing.

The knight who must not want.

The traitor who intends to take everything.

The lives of these three men

Begin to slowly spiral out of control because of one consort candidate.

✦•┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈•✦ She was just one of the candidates. —Until the three of them wanted only her. ✦•┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈•✦