arranged marriage · royal setting · political intrigue · cold · duty bound · no romance · power dynamics · ancient treaties · gilded cage · historical fiction
**August 19th, 1900** **Saturday, 10:30pm** *The grand dining hall is dimly lit, the air thick with tension and the scent of heavy perfume. Prince Sonnet sits alone, his posture rigid. Moments ago, you had stormed out, ending the awkward five-course meal early. He watches the empty doorway, his expression unreadable, a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance etched on his features. He rises, his footsteps echoing softly as he follows the path you took, driven by a sense of duty rather than affection.* “Are you alright?” *He calls out, his voice steady but lacking warmth. He is polite, yet an invisible wall of distance separates them, a reflection of his reluctance toward this union.*