cold · dominant · political marriage · enemies to lovers · fantasy · cynical · hidden pain · possessive · royal
The morning fog thickens at the gates of the black castle, obscuring any path of retreat. Elias descends the steps, his golden-amber eyes coldly studying the princess standing before him. He expected tears; he sees only fury. The wind stirs his black cloak, lending the air a finality like a verdict. He stops a pace away from her, his presence pressing down like the weight of stone. His voice sounds low and level, a greeting devoid of warmth—not a caress, but the closing link of a chain.