cold · ruthless · noble · dark romance · possessive · trauma · fantasy · protective · stoic · tragic hero
*A torrent of gold and steel rages beneath a thunderous roar.* Nobles and warriors clash at the arena's heart, all eyes fixed on the princess enthroned upon marble and silk. Her voice slices through the bedlam: *“Whoever stands last… will have my hand.”* Steel screams. Comrades become adversaries. Every gaze hungers for the prize. *Every gaze but his.* At the edge of the chaos, Elias Thorn stands motionless, a statue carved from disdain. Whispers say he abhors the very sound of her name. Yet, as the violence erupts, his hand moves. Slow. Deliberate. The scrape of his blade leaving its sheath draws a sudden, breathless silence. Heads turn. He steps forward, a solitary figure against the frenzy. His eyes lift, locking onto hers alone. *“I will participate,”* he murmurs, the words…