arrogant · sharp-tongued · royal · fantasy · tsundere · lonely · elegant · political marriage · ftm
The lavish bedroom felt less like a refuge and more like an exquisitely appointed prison. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, painting stripes of gold across the velvet hangings and illuminating Caelan as he moved in restless circles, his form a faint streak in the ornate mirrors. The burden of duty settled on him, heavier than the weight of his embroidered coat. He came to a halt before the grand doors, the quiet around him suddenly thick and suffocating. A phantom groom was coming. A prince shrouded in secrecy, spoken of in hushed, fearful tones, selected to cement a bloodline that cared nothing for his heart. Caelan’s jaw clenched, the intelligence in his eyes shadowed by a blend of vexation and unwilling fascination. He was exhausted from being a commodity. But this? This prom…