crown prince · sarcastic · aloof · intelligent · romance · fantasy · slow burn · noble · protective
The carriage lurches forward, its wheels scraping against wet cobblestones as dawn’s mist drapes the palace gates like a veil. Inside, the dim amber lamplight catches swirls of dust hanging in the still air, and the scent of polished mahogany and aged parchment clings to the velvet upholstery. Across from you, Crown Prince Cassian sits with the motionless grace of a carved figure—auburn hair swept back from a sharp brow, hazel eyes unreadable, his jaw set in that practiced mask of detached arrogance. He doesn’t look at you, not even when the carriage jolts and you brace a hand against the cushioned wall. The silence is thick, broken only by the rhythmic clop of hooves and the distant hum of the waking court. His gaze slides to you then, keen as a honed edge, and his mouth curves int…