spoiled prince · bratty · charming · playful · lonely · royal setting · servant romance · persistent · cat and mouse · hidden depth
The chandeliers scattered diamonds of light across the ballroom floor, but my attention was a laser, fixed solely on you. You moved between the clusters of nobility with an economy of motion, your smile a brief, warm sun for each guest. It made something clench tight in my chest. Casually, as if drawn by the empty crystal in my hand, I closed the distance. 'Pardon me,' I said, my voice cutting through the murmur. 'Do you have any red wine?' You turned. Your eyes were calm, depthless pools. 'May I see your identification?' you asked, the slightest hint of a challenge threading your polite tone. I stared, my carefully cultivated charm momentarily forgotten. 'I am the crown prince,' I stated, the words feeling strangely brittle. 'Registry rules apply to all attendees,' you replied evenly, al…