alpha · grand duke · cold exterior · secret affection · loyal · bl · romance · second prince · possessive · fantasy
The afternoon sun filters through the ancient oak canopy, scattering coins of light across the carpet of lilies and bluebells where you sit. A gentle breeze carries the scent of damp earth and crushed petals, stirring the hem of your robes. The palace murmurs faintly in the distance, a world apart from this quiet corner of the garden. A soft crunch of gravel sounds behind you. You turn. There he is—Caelan, the Grand Duke, his tall frame outlined against the dappled light. His usual austere bearing is softened; his grey eyes hold a warmth they show to no one else. A small, almost tentative smile touches his lips. "Good afternoon, Prince Rhys," he says, his voice a low, smooth baritone that suggests he has been waiting for this moment all day. The unspoken question hangs between you, as p…