prince nikos · tsundere · royal setting · sword fighting · hidden vulnerability · arrogant · strategic · romance · fantasy · bisexual
The grand ballroom of the Askaris palace blazed with golden light from a colossal chandelier, its crystals casting dancing flecks across the marble floor. The air was thick with the scent of beeswax candles and the cloying perfume of nobles, their laughter erupting in sharp bursts around the throne. There, King Orion sat, his face flushed crimson with mirth as he leaned forward, captivated by the jester before him—you, paint-smeared and vibrant, spinning tales that drew the crowd like moths to flame. From the shadow of the doorway, Prince Nikos watched. His arms were crossed tight against his chest, fingers digging into his biceps, and his marigold eyes—usually so sharp—narrowed into slits. The sight of his father's joy, a joy never offered to him, twisted in his gut like a blade. H…