Can we get some facts about MCs family members and their betrothed ? Maybe also how they changed after MC was missing for awhile.
King Leonidas and Queen Nyra
Nyra, who was then Crown Princess, met Leonidas during his opening tourney of being a knight— something he didn’t wish to do as he’s never truly enjoyed that sort of thing; it’s something his father wished of him and he didn’t wish to be more of a disappointment. Nyra felt endeared to the fumbling boy that could barely hold the sword up, let alone hope to wield it, but the gentleness he displayed towards his horse is what truly made her wish to meet him. (They fell in love fairly quickly… Leonidas is one of her most trusted advisors.)
Nyra, like all members of her bloodline, has a magical gift in the form of water magic— said magic, like it does with all the family, showcasing itself by changing the color of her eyes on the dawn of her sixteenth birthday. Changing light green to enchanting blue.
Leonidas is definitely the softer of the two. Sneaking his children little treats after dinner has finished, or trying to persuade his wife to let them play a bit longer, but it’s Nyra that read to you when you were little before bed— despite Leonidas being the scholar between them— as she’d do different voices and various other things; all in the effort to make her darling children smile.
They both still wear midnight purple— the color of mourning for a royal within Aetheria— due to the loss of you. Nyra wearing a necklace/earrings with the stone and Leonidas with his cape being the color… Something that’s understated, as it’s not the full outfit, but something that still shows that they’re thinking of you.
Leonidas has become much more finicky of his children, worrying constantly when they’re not where they’re supposed to be. The stress has caused his darker hair to start going a bit more grey. While Nyra has been much more protective and less willing to bend her already iron-clad rules… She won’t let another one of her children disappear.
Many call him cold-hearted, aloof in the face of all the heartache that his family has faced as he’s never been seen to have shed a single tear for you… Of course, that wasn’t the case within the privacy of his quarters, but he refused to break within the public eye— remaining the perfect heir as he was always trained to do.
He has a certain fondness for the old tabby that’s made her home within the stables of the palace— a scruffy thing with half its right ear missing and a scar across her face, but the tabby has survived despite everything and Elarin, however foolish he believes it to be, hopes that if the cat could survive then so could you.
Likes the peace and quiet of the library within the Royal Wing, less people coming into bother him— barring the cleaning staff— which is what he prefers. When he’s not in with his various tutors then he’s there simply basking in the tranquility that the place offers him… It happens few and far between as of late.
Stills wears a small trinket that you made for him years before— a silly birthday present that he had pretended to not understand… The little brooch now sits snugly over his heart, underneath the sash that he wears to court.
To an outsiders perspective he hasn’t changed in the slightest, but to the people that know him they know that he’s become colder, more withdraw, focused more and more on his duties… It helps him stop wondering about what could have been; even if he does stop to stare at the Map of Arvandor whenever he sees it… Wondering where you could have possibly gone.
Being your twin, your disappearance destroyed them completely. They couldn’t be in their quarters of the castle, that they shared with you, for months after the fact. They wouldn’t even let the cleaning staff in either— refusing to let anyone destroy the last bits of you they had.
As is custom, on the sixteenth birthday of a royal heir a ball is held to honor them, and to showcase their gift, Kalyn absolutely refused to have theirs without you by their side. As it would feel like they’d be celebrating something that wasn’t wholly theirs (and it isn’t in their eyes).
Was always hot-headed as a child, which is why their gift with fire magic wasn’t a surprise, but they detest the color of their crimson eyes now… As it took away the small connection they had with you… The color of your eyes. Because, at least, when they looked in the mirror they could pretend that you were looking back.
Has a sweet tooth the likes no one has seen before. Kalyn and Leonidas always had a little “date” where they’d sneak into the palace kitchens to raid the sweets… Something that Leonidas spoke with the cooks beforehand so they were prepared (Kalyn still thinks they were being thieves of the night).
They’re still fairly hot-headed, but they’re also more closed off in a sense that they try not to form new connections with other people. When they used to try to make friends with everyone and anyone. The one topic that is definitely liable to make them blow up is you… so people tread that line with extreme caution. Especially after they punched a dignitary who had been talking about a conspiracy that the royal family is the one that caused you to vanish.
Spends a lot of her time within the castle gardens or within the courtyard surrounded by admirers and potential suitors… Not that she truly pays them any attention. While getting gifts are cute/endearing, and she gives thanks to the people who went out of their way to give her one, it’s a simple benefit nothing more— it can also get tedious when she’s simply trying to be alone.
Has a deep fondness and love for animals and plants, all living things really. You can typically see her with her loyal hound heeling at her feet or following closely by her side… She always feels safe when he’s nearby.
Her sixteenth birthday is coming up, along with the ball and manifestation of her gift, which is coincidentally around the time that you’re found… Maybe you can finally have the ball that was stolen from you (and Kalyn)… If she agrees to it, of course.
Tries her best to be there for her family when the time of your disappearance comes around… Even if she feels like a ghost at times due to it, because she doesn’t truly understand but still feels the faint echoes of her own pain falling back to her— telling her things she tries to grasp, to remember, but it’s always too far out of reach.
She was five years old when you vanished. Remembers faint things about you, but she’s mainly been affected by the way her family is now without you. A part of her misses you, misses the relationship she used to have with you, but she doesn’t truly remember you completely… She’s also far from being the energetic child with chubby cheeks that you remember.
