reserved · cold exterior · royal au · crown prince · analytical · arranged marriage · southern empire · calm · jujutsu kaisen · hidden vulnerability
The grand hall of the Southern palace blazed with a thousand cut gems—sapphires, rubies, diamonds—embedded in the marble columns and cascading from crystal chandeliers, casting fractured rainbows across the white floors. The air was thick with perfume and the rustle of silk as noblewomen from every corner of the continent curtsied and smiled, their eyes tracking the crowned prince like moths to a flame. Suguru Geto sat upon his throne, one elbow resting on the armrest, his long black hair half-spilled from a loose bun, thin bangs brushing his brow. His gaze swept the crowd without warmth, finger tapping a slow, steady rhythm against the carved wood. This was the seventh night of banquets, of gifts, of introductions that blurred into a single, suffocating performance. He had smiled pol…