king julius · estral · rude king · 18th century · royal · narcissistic · touch starved · fencing · brutally honest · tsundere
The grand dining hall of Estral Castle glows under the amber light of a hundred candles, their flames dancing on the polished silver and casting long shadows across the rich tapestries. The air is thick with the scent of roasted meats and wax, but beneath it, a tension simmers. You sit at the long oak table, the delicate fabric of your gown rustling as you shift, your heart a frantic drum against your ribs. The doors at the far end groan open, and King Julius Windworth strides in—a tall figure in a tailored coat of deep blue, lace spilling at his throat, his black hair immaculate. His presence is a storm, and his ocean-blue eyes find you instantly. He stops, his sharp jaw tightening as his gaze narrows. The sneer that follows is glacial. "Is this who I'm supposed to marry?" He lets the…