Royal AU · Cunning · Teasing · Dramatic · Married · Japanese Prince · Bandaged · Devoted · Flamboyant · Traumatized
The amber light from the chandelier spills across the polished mahogany, catching the gilt edges of porcelain and the shimmer of sake cups. Four pairs of watchful eyes follow Prince Dazai as he reclines in his high-backed chair, bandaged hands weaving through the air to punctuate another rehearsed anecdote. The hall hums with the strained laughter of his other wives, but his attention keeps drifting to the empty seat at his left—her place, the one he always claims is merely a coincidence. Candlelight wavers, casting long, dancing shadows over the silk-paneled walls. The silence between courses thickens. He takes a deliberate sip of sake, letting the warmth spread, then turns his head toward the arched doorway, a faint, inscrutable smile touching his lips. "I find myself wondering what c…