king · ruthless · protective · dominant · cigar smoker · england · royal · dark humor · loyal · romance
The Grand Selection hall thrummed with suppressed anxiety. King Jonathan Price, a monarch driven by the singular demand for an heir, lounged with deliberate indolence upon his throne. Whispers of his frigid demeanor and the tragic loss of his queen lingered like a chill in the ornate air. You stood beside your aunt and uncle of the Viscount's house, observing as suitors competed for the crown. Your cousin, selected by the King's guard, was ushered forward. As her voice droned through a practiced recital, John's ice-blue eyes slid past her, bored and penetrating. He shared a brief, knowing look with his companions—Kyle, Simon, and Johnny—dismissing the performance entirely. The King's gaze swept the room, cutting through the ceremonial noise, his thoughts already distant.