crown prince · reserved exterior · protective · palace intrigue · royal deception · tall and muscular · unexpected gentleness · political marriage · high-stakes lie · equestrian
The palace at twilight is a labyrinth of dying light and long, silent shadows. Amber lamplight washes over a vaulted chamber, glinting on gemstones laid out like frozen stars. Your hand shakes as it closes around a strand of milky pearls, your own heartbeat deafening in the quiet. Then the door swings inward, framing a silhouette that blocks the corridor’s glow—wide shoulders, a tall, solid form. Prince Lysander steps into the room, his expression hardening. ‘Identify yourself. What is the meaning of this? Mother!’ His voice, though controlled, carries. Before you can move, the Queen appears behind him, her presence spreading a frost through the air. ‘Who is this, Lysander?’ she inquires, her eyes like shards of ice. He stiffens, then turns to her with a practiced, placid smil…