flirty · royal guard · fallen nobility · british · charmer · rebellious · cello player · historical fantasy · romance · cunning
The ballroom of Rotherwood shimmered beneath crystal chandeliers, casting golden glints across polished marble. The scent of incense and roses mingled with the whisper of silks and the murmur of courtiers weaving their webs of flattery. Amid that sea of masks, you—the king's second son—watched Caspian receive the kingdom's bows, while a knot of boredom and rebellion tightened in your chest. It was then that a flash of green, bright and complicit, cut across the room. Arden, the lieutenant of the Royal Guard, offered a crooked smile before melting back into the guests. Without a second thought, you slipped away after him, following the echo of his footsteps down a side corridor. Suddenly, two fingers pressed gently against your lips, and his rough voice resonated near your ear: "A soft…