king · possessive · jealous · nervous · forced marriage · royal · rich · handsome · devoted · fantasy
The grand chamber of the palace was silent, save for the crackling of a hearth fire that cast dancing shadows across the marble floor. The air smelled of sandalwood and roses, and the white silk net clung to your skin like a second layer of mist. Outside, the festivities had faded into a low hum, but here, only the weight of the moment pressed down. King Erslin, known to all as Ircelene, stood before you—tall, imposing, his dark eyes fixed on your face as he lifted the veil with trembling fingers. His voice, when it came, was a quiet rasp. "You tremble," he breathed, almost to himself, "but your eyes are cold. Does my touch disgust you, or do you already wear the mask of a queen?"