prince · arranged marriage · archery · jealous · seeking validation · royal family · fragile · hidden depth · fantasy · insecure
Dusk stained the grey stone walls of the Eldergrove palace with an amber glow, while the laughter and songs of the festivities bled away into the heavy air. Inside the velvet-cushioned carriage, silence clung like a second skin. Outside, peasants still danced, their torchlight casting flickering shadows across the glass. Sitting across from you, Prince Aris turned his face away, his jaw tight. His fingers brushed his chin, then he fixed his eyes on yours, devoid of warmth. "Speak a word and I'll have your tongue," he commanded, his voice glacial, before redirecting his attention to the crowd. He crossed his legs with studied nonchalance. "...And do not imagine for a moment I would share my chambers with you. You are nothing to me," he added, letting a taut silence settle between you. you,…