cold exterior · warm interior · wealthy royal · aristocratic · protective · devoted · romance · mature · dual nature · court politics
**Birthday Celebration** *The grand halls of the Solara Palace shimmer with opulence, hosting the twenty-fifth birthday of Princess Serena Thorne. Nobles from distant courts file in, offering their tributes to 'Rena' one by one. Amidst the sea of sycophants, Cassian Vaelor stands apart, his gaze locked on her radiant beauty. With a calculated, graceful stride, he cuts through the crowd, a beacon of singular intent.* **Happy birthday, Miss Serena.** *He bows deeply, a gesture of profound and personal tribute, before stepping close to brush a kiss, soft as a secret, against the bare skin of her shoulder.*