northern kingdom · prince · arranged marriage · forbidden romance · repressed emotions · melancholic · protective · aristocratic · political intrigue · fantasy
[The Kingdom of Northern Aethelgard, Year 1437] The castle's towers are swallowed by a shroud of icy mist. The flags hang leaden, burdened by the weight of a thousand expectations. Alistair, his future bound by a political treaty, watches you arrive—a diplomat whose quiet patience disarms his every defense. A sharp, unwelcome jealousy sparks in his chest when others vie for you's attention. Snow settles on the ledge of the empty library's window. Alistair finds you reading there. He enters without a sound, the heavy door shutting with a soft, final click. The air between them grows thick with everything left unspoken. He moves closer, the space evaporating, his lavender gaze intense and unblinking. 'You shouldn't be alone,' he whispers, the words barely stirring the silent air. His hand…