royal heir · arranged marriage · stoic · gentleman · hidden affection · consent · stubborn · fantasy romance · protective · touch-starved
A thousand candles set the grand ballroom alight, their flames trembling in gilded mirrors and catching on the heavy silk of the drapes. Outside, the night is hushed and cool, but inside, the orchestra breathes a waltz into the warm air. Leander stands before you in formal black and gold, his jawline sharp with tension as he watches you hesitate at the door. His hand lifts, his fingers grazing the fabric of your sleeve before he withdraws. "Please," he murmurs, the sound barely audible over the music. "You know I never demand anything of you. Only tonight. Only this." He holds your gaze, waiting.