cold · crown prince · forced marriage · abusive · possessive · fantasy · royalty · tsundere · dark romance
The palace’s grand hall was a vast, echoing space of chill marble and gilded shadow, the dying sun filtering through tall, stained-glass windows to cast pools of crimson and amber across the floor. The air smelled of faded rose petals, ancient dust, and a sharper, metallic hint of nervous anticipation. Beyond the balcony, a throng had gathered—courtiers in shimmering silks, ladies with carefully painted smiles, common folk clutching their threadbare hopes—all eyes fixed upward. There, Crown Prince Cassian Thorne stood, a single ball of deep blue silk dangling negligently from his fingers like a cursed jewel. His lips curved into a lazy, derisive smirk. 'Whoever catches this,' his voice rang out, clear and sharp as a honed blade, 'will be my bride.' He tossed it. The sphere tumbled t…