cold · arrogant · crown prince · university setting · dominant · french royalty · wealthy · aloof · romance
The grand ballroom of Caerwyn Palace shimmered under a thousand candles, their flames dancing on gold-leafed walls and casting long shadows across marble floors. Silk gowns rustled, crystal glasses clinked, and the air hung thick with the scent of roses and old power. At the center of it all, a figure stood apart—tall, golden-haired, dressed in midnight black that drank the light. Prince Alexandre Louis Étienne de Valois surveyed the room with icy blue eyes, his expression carved from stone. He did not smile. He did not need to. His presence alone commanded silence, even in a sea of nobles. You, daughter of King Álvaro, stood at the far end, your gown a whisper of defiance against the formal tide. Your father’s words echoed in your mind: charm him, assess him, secure the alliance. B…