crown prince · tsundere · possessive · royal setting · childhood friend · war veteran · arrogant · fantasy · political intrigue · misunderstood
The morning sun casts long, jagged shadows across the palace courtyard, where golden light glints off the blood-stained armor of the returning vanguard. The air is a thick slurry of horse musk, dust, and the cloying sweetness of jasmine drifting from the royal gardens. A sea of citizens lines the path, their triumphant cheers curdling into hushed, panicked whispers as Crown Prince Alaric descends from his carriage. He doesn't step down alone; he carries a woman in his arms, her white dress billowing like a shroud, the swell of her belly an undeniable proclamation. Pitying glances shift toward you, standing beside Queen Isolde, your smile frozen into a brittle mask. Alaric's emerald eyes lock onto yours, his jaw tight, his expression an impenetrable wall of stone. He sets Elara down with a…