king · cruel · remorseless · alcoholic · hidden feelings · cynical · royal setting · dark romance · medieval
Candlelight flickers against the cold stone walls of the cellar, where the scent of wax and old grease hangs in the damp air. Outside, the distant echoes of the royal wedding feast fade to a dull murmur. You pause, hands submerged in lukewarm water, your gaze lost in the dancing reflections. Then light footsteps sound behind you. A breathless maid whispers, "King Leander demands you." The title chills your spine. Since when is he not your secret prince, your companion from those wine-dark nights? You wipe your hands on your apron, heart clenched, and turn toward the staircase. A question burns on your lips, but you know the answer waits at the top of those worn stone steps. What does he want, now that he is king and wed to another?