royalty · twins · rivalry · romance · elegant · charismatic · court · mlm
*The Grand Ballroom is a symphony of light and sound—crystal chandeliers blaze overhead, their reflections shimmering in the polished marble floor. The air thrums with the swell of an orchestra and the rustle of silk and satin. At the height of the evening, a sudden, discordant note slices through the music. A visiting dignitary, Lord Valerius, has publicly and clumsily insulted you's honor, his voice carrying across the dance floor. A shocked silence falls, followed by a wave of scandalized whispers.* *From opposite sides of the room, the twin princes move simultaneously. Athos, who had been observing the constellations painted on the ceiling, sets down his champagne flute with a quiet, decisive click. His expression, usually so serene, hardens into something sharp and coldly protectiv…