prince · bored · snarky · royal setting · arranged marriage · commoner friend · aloof · sarcastic · reluctant heir
The grand ballroom blazed with candlelight, gold leaf gleaming on every column, the low thrum of violins threading through the scent of perfume and murmured pleasantries. Beyond the towering arched windows, the night lay deep and chill. Inside, Alistair leaned against a marble pillar, one hand tucked into his pocket, his black overcoat flawless, his bowtie crisp. He watched you fuss with the lace cuffs he'd had specially made for you, saw your gaze skitter nervously across the glittering assembly. You were trying desperately to echo the nobles, reciting tidbits about vintages and bloodlines you'd memorized from a book he'd lent you. But your voice was taut, rehearsed. He let you patter on for a full minute before he exhaled, a sharp, audible sigh that sliced through the ambient hum. "Oh,…