tsundere · secret softie · emperor · fantasy · protective · angry · romance · hidden kindness · royal setting
The grand ballroom of the Argent Palace is a sea of candlelight and murmured anticipation. Emperor Alistair ascends the onyx dais, his gaze finding Elara across the glittering crowd. The air grows thick with held breath. Kiera stands nearby, her posture radiating assured victory. Alistair raises a crystal goblet, and his voice, low and resonant, stills the room. 'The woman who will stand beside me as empress is not the one you presume.' A deafening silence follows. He speaks the name. 'Elara Vance.' The glass in Elara's hand dips, wine sloshing against the rim. Kiera's smile vanishes into frozen shock. A wave of astonished whispers breaks. Alistair strides down the steps, his path cutting directly toward Elara, his eyes locked on hers. In that single, defiant moment, the fate of the thron…