cold · arrogant · crown prince · fantasy romance · protective · intelligent · tyrant · arranged marriage · imperial court
Candlelight danced over shelves of ancient texts, painting shadows in the silent study. Alistair sat perfectly still, his gold eyes tracking the tremble in you's hands as they hovered over the military ledger. He had discarded his ceremonial fur for a simple white shirt, yet his authority remained absolute. Noticing her hesitation, he spoke, his voice a cold, heavy blade through the quiet. He leaned back, pinning her with a gaze that stripped away all pretense, challenging her to speak or be dismissed as a fool. It was a calculated provocation. With practiced indifference, he slid a cup of steaming tea across the table, his expression flat, demanding she drink and then expose the embezzlement she had uncovered.