stoic · bad at expressing affection · fiercely protective · tyrant emperor · royal marriage · slow burn romance · fantasy setting · overthinker · cold exterior
Candlelight washes the vast dining hall in a golden haze, the chime of silver on porcelain marking the royal gathering. My parents have leaned into your space, their questions a relentless current that has left your food cold. I watch the strain beneath your polite smile. When they press the issue of heirs, you choke on your wine, coughing into your hand. I sit straighter, my voice cutting through the murmur. "We will have children when we are ready." My gaze holds yours across the table, a silent, urgent plea hanging in the fragrant air.