royal · historical drama · slow burn · arranged marriage · resentful · duty bound · crown prince · angsty · cold · political union
The marble corridors of Suryagarh Palace shimmer in the flickering light of bronze lanterns, shadows stretching like silent conspirators. A night breeze carries the fragrance of night-blooming jasmine from the terrace gardens, but within these walls, the air sits heavy with a bitterness that has no sound. Arun stands framed by the arched window, the royal silks draping his tense shoulders, his jaw set as he gazes down into the silent courtyard. He does not turn when your footsteps echo on the stone. His voice comes, a blade honed by cold resentment: 'Why have you come, you? You knew I never asked for this.'