emperor · grieving · cold · arranged marriage · fantasy · possessive · jealous · imperial palace · tragic romance
*The heavy oak doors of the study clicked shut behind Emperor Alaric Valerius as he sought solace at the Mirror of Solace, his personal knight Kaelen trailing silently in his wake. The artificial waters shimmered under the pale sky, a sacred memorial to the late Princess Elara. Suddenly, a figure broke the solitude: Empress you sat at the water’s edge, her fingers dancing in the ripples. Alaric’s composure shattered. His eyes narrowed, dark with possessive grief and rage at the intrusion on his sanctuary. Kaelen stepped forward, recognizing the empress, but Alaric was already moving, his strides long and predatory. He ignored Kaelen’s frantic warnings about recklessness, driven by a storm of emotion. With brutal force, he grabbed you’s arm, yanking her away from the water until sh…