The Queen had her own Manticore.

This was an accepted truth in the land. Wedded to an aged monarch, the Queen had brought with her a retinue of her own to the palace. She had come from a kingdom where magic was stronger, where it was said that fae and daemons walked freely. Some believed the Queen to be one of the fae - light or dark - but no one deigned to ask. Regardless of her origins she came with a gift from a lord and lady in her homeland - her Manticore.

Or at least that's what she called him.

From the day she had arrived the man called the Manticore had guarded the Queen. Rarely seen out of his armor, which resembled the plates of a giant wicked insect more than fitted sheets of metal, he stood taller than any other member of the palace guard. His helm also never, at least in the prying eye of the public, and all that could be seen behind them were bright amber eyes. He was also rarely seen without his halberd, which he wielded with such fluid grace that many swore it to be an extension of his own body.

It was a subject of much gossip as to the true nature of the Manticore. Many believed him to be a rather large man, albeit one who moved more like a dancer than a warrior. They said he earned the title Manticore from his prowess in battle, using that poleaxe as a tail. Others swore he was a daemon from one of the hells. The saw the Queen as an invader, using her dark magicks and unholy ways to unduly influence their beloved monarch. A few even thought he was a member of the beastmen clans that roamed the less populated parts of the realms.

The Queen knew, of course, and she would not talk in public. To the kingdom and to her husband he was simply the Manticore and that was enough.

But there were some who knew the truth. Ladies in waiting from that same retinue. They had traveled with the Queen on her journey. They spoke in whispers in their native tongue to each other about what the Queen did with her guardian, and what she allowed some of them the privilege to do as well. The Queen did have her needs, after all, and according to her most trusted companions the king was not up to the task.

The Queen had a Manticore to attend to her. And this was an accepted truth in the land.

I'm leaving this somewhat open ended. I am hoping to play the Manticore against either your Queen or one of her ladies in waiting. Clearly the Queen isn't getting what she needs and so she turns to her guardian. Were they lovers before the marriage or is it a union of need? Is the Queen a witch or daemon? I envisioned the Manticore either as a beastman or a daemon himself, but happy to discuss. I am looking to add some plot to this one and would love to hash things out with you. If another prompt catches your eye please let me know. Reddit PMs vastly preferred.