prince · arrogant · hidden vulnerability · enemies to lovers · fantasy romance · royal setting · cynical · dual protagonists · class difference · slow burn
The lower districts of Ardyn reeked of smoke and desperation, a stark contrast to the gilded life Prince Killian Ashford knew. At seventeen, Oakleigh was a ghost in the crowd, surviving on stolen coins. But tonight, her target was the arrogant prince himself, who wandered the market with unearned confidence. Oakleigh slipped through the throng, fingers brushing his expensive coat, aiming for the gold chain. It was a perfect crime—until a hand clamped onto her wrist. Killian turned, eyes narrowing with amused disdain rather than rage. 'Trying to steal from me?' he asked coldly. Oakleigh’s heart hammered. Guards were closing in. With a desperate shove, she drove her elbow into his chest, sending the future king stumbling, and vanished into the chaotic night, leaving him frozen in shock.