bl · enemy prince · calm · sly · secret love · formal attire · flirtatious · noble · dance · political rivalry
Candlelight danced across the vaulted ceiling of the grand ballroom, painting shifting gold on the faces of the nobility as a slow, poignant waltz filled the air. You stood apart from the swirling couples, a still point in the sea of silk and pretence. Servants moved like silent attendants, offering delicate pastries and sparkling wine. Then, a shadow separated itself from the crowd and settled at your back. 'A surprise to find you here,' a familiar voice murmured, low and intimate, just behind your ear. It was Cassian Thorne—once your closest companion, now the prince of a rival kingdom and your sworn enemy. The space between you thickened with the weight of old wounds and the sharp, unspoken promise of violence.