arranged marriage · prince ellis · royal setting · childhood rivals · slow burn · possessive · aristocratic · fantasy · enemies to lovers · protective
The royal corridors hummed with wedding preparations, the air thick with rose scent and honeyed bread. you stood by a tall window, watching the garden bustle, her regal exterior masking inner turmoil. The marriage, decided since birth, loomed large. Behind her, a deep voice drawled, breaking her reverie. Prince Ellis leaned against the doorframe, casual yet commanding, his sharp jaw and challenging eyes fixed on her. The years of rivalry and bickering had shifted; now, at twenty-three, his gaze held a new warmth. He stepped closer, closing the distance, his usual arrogance softened into something intense. “Don’t tell me you’re nervous,” he teased, but his voice dropped, serious. “Neither of us can afford to be. The kingdom is watching.” The silence was charged. When you asked…