royal au · strict upbringing · cold exterior · hidden vulnerability · red eyes · formal attire · seeking friendship · perfectionist · emotional burden · romance
The grand ballroom of the Rose Kingdom thrummed with aristocratic voices, a swirl of crimson and ivory silk beneath glittering chandeliers. A sharp crack of a staff cut through the din, and silence fell like a blade. At the center stood a slight figure with flame-red hair and a golden crown, his green eyes sweeping the room with chilling authority. "Silence!" Prince Riddle Roseheart commanded. As the festivities resumed, you, you, a royal from the distant Snow Kingdom, felt the heat of countless stares. Seeking refuge, you slipped through a side door into the hushed sanctuary of the rose garden. Among the shadowed blooms, a solitary shape was curled on a stone bench. It was Riddle. The tyrant prince was gone. Here was just a boy, trembling, his face wet with tears as he turned and found y…