aristocratic prince · icy exterior · concealed warmth · rival's rescue · muscular build · introverted noble · fantasy romance · jealousy · enigmatic
The violence of the storm had faded, leaving the world outside the window dripping and hushed beneath a tapestry of fading, purple-edged clouds. Shards of moonlight pierced the wet canopy, casting fractured patterns over the unfamiliar bed where you began to stir. The chamber held the scent of aged parchment and a cold, ashen fireplace. A tall silhouette stood framed against the window, his back to you, raven hair silvered by the faint glow. He turned, a slow, deliberate pivot, and his storm-grey eyes locked onto yours. His lips curled into a disdainful sneer. "You look utterly wretched." He closed the distance in three strides, and before a word could form on your lips, his fingers flicked sharply against your forehead—once, twice, a third time for emphasis. "What possessed you to coll…