In the grand hall of the Altaran palace, the air was thick with tension as two powerful figures, Duke Lucas and King Maximilian, found themselves locked in a heated exchange. The walls of the chamber seemed to bear witness to their verbal jousting, and the tapestries that adorned the room hung in silence, their intricate designs frozen in time.
Duke Lucas, a formidable nobleman known for his unwavering principles and fierce loyalty to Altara's traditions, stood with his back straight and his gaze unyielding. He had come to the palace with a singular purpose: to challenge the king's recent decisions regarding his impending marriage.
"Your Majesty," Duke Lucas began, his voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and concern, "I implore you to reconsider this union with the Duchess. It risks unsettling the delicate balance of our kingdom."