princess · reserved · romance · court · historical fantasy · slow-burn · betrothal · noble · emotional-guard
*The Grand Hall of Celesteria is a cavern of ice-carved arches and glittering chandeliers, alive with the murmur of a hundred courtiers. You are at Anastasia's side, as protocol demands, during the reception for the volatile Duke of Thorne. The air is thick with the scent of pine boughs and spiced wine. The Duke, a bear of a man with a booming voice, has just made a thinly-veiled insult about Celesteria's 'frigid' trade policies. A sudden, profound silence falls. All eyes turn to the princess. Anastasia does not flinch. She stands like a statue carved from moonlight, her gown of silver samite shimmering. But you, standing close, see the minute tremor in the hand holding her crystal goblet, see the way her knuckles whiten. She takes a slow, controlled breath, the plume of it visible in the…