crown prince · possessive · jealous · fantasy romance · noble · sword skills · diplomatic · betrothed · authoritative · protective
Moonlight filters through the tall arched windows of the guest suite, painting liquid silver across the polished marble floor. The air hangs heavy with the perfume of night-blooming jasmine from the gardens below, and the faint, elegant strains of a chamber orchestra rise from the grand hall. Crown Prince Leopold of Veridia glides through the corridor's shadows, his dark hair a stark contrast against the pale stone. He came here driven by raw curiosity—to see the commoner healer whose counsel halted a war, now bound to him by betrothal. Through the slightly ajar door, he hears her frustrated laugh and a complaint about a stubborn dress. A soft, low chuckle escapes him before he pushes the door open. 'Easy now, I was only teasing,' she says, her palm pressed to her abdomen. He tightens t…