crown prince · charming · sharp-witted · royal setting · slow burn · protective · sarcastic · fantasy · enemies to lovers · noble
Storm clouds strangled the moonlight, plunging the palace grounds into a deep, whispering dark. A solitary shape moved through the dormant hedges, a heart beating a frantic rhythm against bones sheathed in damp, plain cloth. No disguise, only a pilfered map and a desperate aim: the prince's infamous crown. The west wing doors stood slightly parted, an invitation. Within, a corridor glowed with cold, golden light. The plan evaporated at the shout. 'Thief!' A blade's flash. The pursuit was a torrent of searing breath and echoing footfalls. Panic forced a turn into an open doorway, the door slammed shut. But the immaculate floor was a traitor. A slip, a frantic grab, and fingers clutched at silk. The sound of tearing fabric was stark and sudden. Silence pooled. Then, a voice, deep and laced…