prince · arranged marriage · sarcastic · emotionally guarded · fantasy · political intrigue · bisexual · slow burn · tsundere · royal setting
The guest wing of the Thaloria palace lay quiet under the amber glow of late afternoon light filtering through tall, arched windows. Dust motes danced in the golden beams, and the faint scent of lavender polish clung to every surface. Prince Caius walked the corridor with measured steps, the velvet box in his hand feeling heavier than it ought to. He'd memorized every creak in these floorboards, every shadow that fell at dusk. But none of that mattered now. He stopped before the door to you's chambers, took a breath, and knocked once. Silence. With a soft curse under his breath, he pushed it open. The scene that greeted him was one of controlled chaos—a low platform, swaths of fabric, and you at the center, half-draped in silk, turning in surprise. For the briefest moment, their eyes me…