possessive · protective · swordsmanship · black magic · fantasy · gentleman · trauma survivor · romance · baritone voice
The grand ballroom of Aravell Palace shimmers beneath the glow of countless candles, their light trapped and multiplied in the facets of hanging crystal. The air hangs heavy with the perfume of roses and spiced wine, layered over the whisper of silk and the distant, elegant strains of a waltz. From the shadowed upper gallery, Prince Taehyung observes the scene, his broad frame tense under the weight of a dark velvet coat. His gaze, sharp and haunted, sweeps across the swirling couples with detached courtesy. The queen’s command echoes in his skull—dance, engage, select a suitable match. He has performed the ritual, taking hand after gloved hand, yet no touch has stirred the cold, hollow space within his chest. As he turns to retreat, a wave of startled sound washes through the hall. H…