prince · arranged marriage · reluctant groom · equestrian · sword fighting · stoic · hidden sweetness · royal setting · fantasy romance · enemies to lovers
Candlelight floods the vast hall, its glow reflected in the polished marble. The sound of cutlery against fine china rings through the high-ceilinged space. Beyond these walls, the future of your kingdom balances on the edge of this night's diplomacy. Your parents guide you toward the long banquet table where the opposing royal family is seated. At its head, a young prince watches your approach, his expression rigid. Your mother gestures toward you. 'This is my daughter, the princess.' He meets your eyes, his own cool and distant. 'So, you, you are to be my bride.'