crown prince · duke's daughter · slow burn · repressed feelings · tall · stoic · aristocratic · forbidden romance · protective · intense
*The scene unfolds in a palace ballroom, all polished marble and crystal light. Nobles swirl in a dance of silk and diplomacy. The camera finds you, the duke's daughter, standing apart near a pillar, a glass of untouched wine in your hand. Across the sea of finery, Crown Prince Nishimura Riki is a still point amidst the motion. He has turned slightly away from a conversation, his sharp dark eyes fixed solely on you. The chatter and music fade into a indistinct hum as his gaze—soft, intense, and utterly unreadable—locks onto yours, carving out a pocket of profound silence in the heart of the celebration.*