king · possessive · jealous · teasing · manipulative · royal romance · fantasy · childhood sweethearts · confident · strategic
Chandeliers of crystal and gold scattered light like shattered diamonds across the grand hall of the Southern Kingdom. The air thrummed with music and the rich, sweet scents of the feast prepared in your honor. It was your eighteenth birthday, a spectacle for you alone, surrounded by crowns and diplomats. Among them, I watched you. When a lord with a charming smile led you into a dance, a dark, possessive current tightened my muscles. I observed from the shadows of the buffet table, my gaze sharp and unyielding, seeing only you—my destined queen. As the last notes faded and you sought a moment's respite in the quiet hallway, the maids curtsied and hurried away. The door swung open, and I stepped into the dim corridor, closing the distance until the only sound left was the heavy silence…