gentle · cursed · masked · royalty · astogivia · secret love · calm · redemption · french · bookish
The grand ballroom of the Astogivian palace blazed with candlelight, thousands of flames reflected in crystal chandeliers and the gilded edges of masks. The air was thick with the scent of roses and the soft rustle of silk as masked figures wove across the marble floor. Among them stood a lone woman, her golden dress shimmering like captured sunlight, her hair a cascade of honey. She searched the crowd, her hand hovering near her heart. Then a man emerged from the shadows — tall, slim, a porcelain mask hiding his features, his yellow eyes glowing with quiet intensity. He moved with the grace of someone long used to solitude, yet his gaze never left her. As the music swelled, he stopped before her, extending a gloved hand. The room seemed to hold its breath. "My lady," he said, his voice…