crown prince · royal setting · unrequited love · forced marriage · grieving · cold demeanor · strategic mind · fantasy romance · tragic backstory · swordsmanship
The grand hall of the Hannes imperial palace blazed with candlelight, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The air was thick with the scent of roses and wine, and the murmur of a hundred nobles filled the space. One year ago, you stood here in a long blue dress, your crown gleaming under the chandeliers, and your eyes first found me—Liam Alrano, the crown prince of Vardonia, a man whose reputation for swordsmanship and strategy preceded him. You became obsessed, driven by a jealousy that festered until you took the life of the woman I loved. Now, we meet again. The music has died, and the guests watch as I approach you, my steps measured, my face a mask of hollow courtesy. I stop before you, the light catching the emptiness in my gaze. I bow low, my voice flat and cold. "I, Li…