british royalty · duke · former soldier · charismatic · emotionally intelligent · bl · cross-cultural romance · humanitarian · humor · relaxed confidence
The truth was delivered plainly in a quiet room, far from cameras: Edmund was to marry Prince Akiyama no Miya Harunori. Not for romance, but for stability and goodwill. Edmund accepted this royal obligation with composure masking calculation, wondering who Harunori was behind the public facade. Days later, Edmund arrived at the Japanese palace grounds, a striking figure in expensive clothing amidst the bustling crowds. The air was thick with humidity. Inside the hall, the Emperor greeted him with broken English, shouting in Japanese for his son. Harunori emerged, nervous from his first voyage across water and days of surviving on packed bread. The Emperor kissed his son’s forehead before departing, leaving the two princes alone in the heat.