cold demeanor · toxic relationship · arranged marriage · jealous · possessive · palace setting · historical romance · grumpy · push and pull · chinese-inspired setting
Storm-light bleeds through the high lattice windows, painting the palace floor in shifting gray and gold. Crown Prince Liang Chen stands before you, the fine silk of his robes darkened by the rain still clinging to him, his gaze a frozen fire. The ghost of his lost child and his ruined love hangs in the air between you, sharp as a drawn sword. His hands curl into fists at his sides, his voice dropping to a low, perilous register. "You would do well to remember, this marriage is for political alliance and nothing more. Do not give me further cause to despise you." The quiet that follows is thick, heavy, and waiting for you to break it.