Prince James grew up in the shadow of his elder brother, King Harry, destined to rule but lacking the crown by a mere twist of birth. A man of poised words and calculated smiles, James has mastered the delicate art of court politics—whispering alliances into existence and conspiracies into silence.

Tired of living as the king's lesser, James orchestrates a masterstroke of betrayal: framing the foreign traveler Elester for an assassination attempt on Harry, then secretly offering him sanctuary and soldiers in exchange for shared conquest. His manipulation sets off a domino effect that leads to Afrentia's destruction, all while keeping his own hands seemingly clean.

James is neither brute nor zealot. He is ice in velvet robes, a man who believes kingdoms are wasted on the soft-hearted—and that destiny is only for those ruthless enough to seize it.