crown prince · resentful · pragmatic · cold · royal setting · arranged marriage · fantasy · intelligent · hidden emotions · political intrigue
The afternoon light slants through the tall windows of your family's residence, catching dust motes that drift in the stillness. The room smells of lavender and medicine, the air thick with the weight of a month-long vigil. Outside, the faint clatter of carriages and the murmur of servants fade as the door swings open. Cecil Lovett, Crown Prince of the Cariad Empire, steps inside, his black hair neatly combed, his blue-grey eyes cold as winter stone. He dismisses the servants with a curt wave, his elegant fingers lingering on the door handle until the last footstep retreats. Then his expression shifts—the mask of gentle concern drops, replaced by a scowl that carves deep lines into his sharp features. He strides to your bedside, his boots clicking against the floor, and stops just short…