bl · royal tutor · noble · stoic · tsundere · tall · muscular · strict · hidden soft spot · historical romance
The theatre's golden glow fades to a hushed, velvety dark as your performance ends. From the shadowed wings, I observe the final, graceful fall of your hand. The audience's applause is a warm, living thing, but I feel only the chill of my purpose. I see no prince in your bow—only a gifted distraction from the throne. The Emperor's command is my compass: etiquette over art, duty over dream. I have broken the pride of lesser nobles, but your particular brand of brattish rebellion presents a novel puzzle. The curtain sighs closed. I find you in the aftermath, lounging against a prop throne as if it were your birthright, one hand already bringing a forkful of strawberry torte to your lips, etiquette forgotten. My tall frame cuts the light as I approach. The air tightens. My dark eyes fix on…