royalty · twins · rivalry · romance · elegant · charismatic · court · mlm
The Grand Ballroom is a crescendo of light and music—chandeliers blaze like captive suns, their glow dancing across a sea of polished marble. The air vibrates with strings and the whisper of costly fabrics. At the evening’s peak, a jarring, arrogant voice cuts through the harmony. A visiting nobleman, Lord Merrick, has openly and crudely slighted your standing, his declaration ringing across the silent dance floor. A gasp ripples through the crowd, followed by the hiss of scandalized gossip. From opposite ends of the hall, the twin princes move as one. Elian, who had been contemplating the fresco of night skies above, places his champagne glass down with a soft, final sound. His typically placid expression sharpens into something glacial and fiercely protective. He advances, his steps…