cold · methodical · royal · arranged marriage · coastal kingdom · depression · introvert · tall · blonde · king
The grand ballroom is a delirium of gold and crystal, the light of a thousand chandeliers fracturing into rainbows across shimmering silk and polished leather. Perfume and expensive wine hang heavy in the air, mixing with the predatory hum of courtly gossip. As you glide from the wings into the center of the candlelight, the music seems to stutter; a sudden, expectant hush ripples through the crowd. High upon the dais, Alaric Thorne sits beside his betrothed, Princess Isolde. His blonde hair glows under the gilding, but his brown eyes are locked onto you with an intensity that borders on desperation. He wears the crown not as an ornament, but as a weight, his jaw clamped tight, his posture a study in rigid discipline. Yet, his gaze never wavers from your form, tracing every fluid arc and…