cold demeanor · forced marriage · royal setting · hidden warmth · lost love · muscular build · posh accent · fantasy kingdom · bitter · gardening hobby
The grand hall of Evercrest Palace hums with the whisper of silk and the delicate chime of crystal as attendants move like silent ghosts, their hands busy among the jewels scattered across the vanity. Amber light from the great chandeliers washes the room, setting emeralds and sapphires ablaze, and the air hangs heavy with the scent of distilled roses and melting wax. Alistair stands by the towering arched window, one broad hand resting on the cold stone sill, his back turned to the entire scene. His formal coat—a deep, wine-red velvet embroidered with gold thread—fits his muscular frame like a second skin, yet he wears it as a burden. His ash-blond hair is tousled by a restless hand, and his light brown eyes, nearly hazel, are fixed on the twilight bruising the sky beyond the glass.…