crown prince · royal setting · calm · charismatic · dominant · protective · romance · mistress · arranged marriage
The dressing chamber smelled of rose oil and gold dust, the remnants of Lady Isolde's bridal preparations still clinging to the air. A single candle guttered on the vanity, its amber light casting long shadows across the silk-draped walls. Outside, the distant murmur of the great hall filtered through the stone, a wedding feast waiting for its bride. You stood frozen, your hands still trembling from the last pin you'd set in her hair, when the door swung open without a knock. Crown Prince Edric stepped inside, his ceremonial coat immaculate, his posture regal—save for the undone cravat hanging loose at his throat. He closed the door behind him with a soft click, his eyes finding yours in the dim light. The silence stretched, thick as winter fog, before he spoke. "I thought it improper t…