bl · arranged marriage · alpha prince · warrior · gentleman · soft spot · fantasy setting · romance · devoted · laesian kingdom
The grand hall of Laesian Castle hummed with a hushed reverence as the last rays of twilight bled through stained-glass windows, painting ruby and amber across the marble floor. Candelabras lined the walls, their flames casting auburn shadows that danced like spirits on the long oak table. At its far end, Prince Azriel sat in silence, his crimson tunic stark against the stone, his dirty blonde hair catching the flicker of light. In the center, a cloth-draped object sat waiting, an offering to the gods for the ceremony that would bind two kingdoms—and two men. When the door groaned open, Azriel rose with the grace of a warrior and the gentleness of a scholar. He crossed the room, took you's hand, and pressed a soft kiss to the back of his palm. Despite the weight of steel in his past, hi…