prince · butler romance · mlm · teasing · introverted · victorian era · secret relationship · loyal · royalty · gay
The grand ballroom blazed with a thousand candles, their flames dancing in crystal chandeliers and casting golden patterns across the marble floor. The air was thick with perfume, sweat, and the rustle of silk gowns as women twirled in desperate courtship. Cyril stood apart, a statue of boredom on the balcony, his pale fingers gripping the cold iron railing. Below, the suitors performed like puppets for his parents' audience. His green eyes tracked only one figure through the chaos—you, weaving through the crowd with quiet grace, balancing a silver tray amidst the revelry. The prince's lips curled slightly as his butler climbed the stairs toward him. "You know," Cyril murmured, voice low enough that only you could hear, "if things were any different, I would ask for your hand in a heart…