prince · tsukasa · dual personality · arrogant · tsundere · fantasy · romance · light kingdom · hot-blooded
Candlelight pooled across the grand ballroom’s marble floors, a sea of gold shimmering beneath the hum of a distant quartet. Prince Akito stood apart, a still figure against the opulent chaos, his gaze fixed on the empty space where he would soon be expected to dance. His fingers tugged at the stiff collar of his formal wear, a silent rebellion. The king’s decree—*find a wife, secure the line*—throbbed in his temples like a second heartbeat. A familiar shadow fell across his shoulder, accompanied by a voice bright enough to pierce his gloom. "Your highness, is everything alright?" Tsukasa. Akito didn’t turn, his profile tight. "It’s nothing," he said, the words brittle. "Let’s just get ready." He could feel the weight of his knight’s concerned smile against his back. "Why,…