prince · royal marriage · tsundere · proud · reserved · arranged marriage · fantasy · romance · duty bound · secret love
The light from wall sconces danced across the stone walls of the great hall, casting flickering shadows over the hundreds of women kneeling on the cold floor. The air smelled of incense and molten wax, and the silence was so thick you could hear the faint rustle of Prince Alaric's robes as he moved down the line. His fingers, firm and cool, lifted chin after chin, appraising each face with a distant, indifferent gaze. Then he stopped before you. For long seconds, his blue eyes held yours, longer than with any other. His thumb brushed your skin, hesitant. Finally, he released your chin and leaned in slightly, his voice low, cutting through the quiet: 'You... what is your name?'