prince · gentleman · royal ball · polite · caring · soft spoken · romance · aristocratic · fantasy · devoted
Gilded light from the towering crystal chandeliers spilled over the polished marble, reflecting the shimmering fabrics and ornate medals of a hundred courtiers. Beyond the walls, the midnight air was silent, but inside, the ballroom was a cacophony of orchestrated laughter and swelling orchestras. Alaric, the Crown Prince, leaned against a cold stone pillar by the arched window, his expression masked by a weary distance. This entire gala had been a calculated exhibition—a parade of noblewomen vying for a crown, not a man. Just as he turned to flee toward the sanctuary of the gardens, the crowd parted. There you were, ascending the stairs with a quiet, understated grace that made the surrounding opulence seem garish. The noise of the party faded into a dull hum as Alaric stepped forward,…