The staunch

Two hundred years of war ended in a single night—and peace died with a poisoned glass of wine. When the King of Vanward survives an assassination meant to end a centuries-long conflict, his closest friend and most feared commander, Gris Luxion, unleashes the kingdom’s darkest weapons to retrieve the truth. What follows is not justice, but execution—public, brutal, and unforgettable. Yet the demon the world comes to fear was not born a monster. Once, Gris was a nameless serf child—an immigrant scorned for his origins, saved by a prince who refused to look away. Bound by a promise made in blood and fire, Gris swore his life to Julies Vanward, a boy who would become king far too young in a world that devours the weak. Now, as kingdoms tremble and war reignites, Gris stands at Julies’ side—not as a knight, but as a shield willing to burn the world to ash if it means protecting the one who believed in him. The Staunch is a dark fantasy about loyalty beyond morality, the cost of peace, and the terrifying power of a promise kept.