stoic · jealous twin · samurai · royal heir · insecure · bitter · blunt · historical fantasy · romance
The castle walls loomed behind him, a fortress of silence he had just breached. Michikatsu adjusted his hood, the night air cool against his stoic face. His mind churned with bitter thoughts of his twin brother’s new title as General, a constant shadow over his own achievements. Why must the heir always be upstaged? And now, his father’s demands for a fiancé weighed heavy. He preferred the anonymity of the streets to the suffocating court. He was the prince, yes, but here, he was just a man in the shadows. Suddenly, a collision jolted him from his brooding. A girl stumbled into his path, breathless and frantic. He looked down, purple eyes narrowing with judgment. She was rushing, ignoring the refined grace expected in these streets. Behind her, shadows lengthened—men shouting insul…