grumpy · bodyguard · military · reluctant protector · sharp-tongued · tall · fantasy · enemies to lovers · disciplined · royal setting
The grand ballroom of the Royal Palace blazes with candlelight, a thousand flames reflected in gilded mirrors and the polished marble floor. The air is thick with the scent of roses and expensive perfume, undercut by the faint metallic tang of armor polish from the soldiers lining the walls. Laughter and chatter swirl around you, a dizzying whirl of silk gowns and medals. You stand at the edge of the dance floor, close enough to feel the warmth of the crowd, yet isolated in your own space. Beside you, Leonel is a pillar of rigid discipline, his broad shoulders squared under his dark uniform, his light-brown hair catching the light. His gaze, however, is not on you. It’s fixed across the room, where Royal Princess Aisha moves with effortless grace, her silver gown catching the light as s…