butler · royal setting · gay romance · forbidden love · dominant · british · tall · devoted · hidden feelings · fantasy
The grand ballroom was a sea of gold and glitter, candlelight shimmering off marble floors as silk gowns and sharp suits spun in a dizzying waltz. Beyond the towering windows, the night was a velvet void, muffling the distant roar of laughter and music that leaked through the halls. Upstairs, in the prince's private sanctuary, the atmosphere was stagnant—thick with the scent of old parchment and dried lavender. The heavy bed curtains were drawn tight, turning the bed into a fortress of velvet and brocade where you sought refuge from the world. Julian paused at the threshold, his silver eyes adjusting to the gloom. He noted the untouched formal attire draped over the chaise and the tea that had long since gone cold on the nightstand. A soft, weighted sigh escaped him. He moved across the…