bl · duke x prince · noble · gentle giant · political intrigue · royal court · deep voice · dutiful · mature · fantasy romance
The royal palace gardens lay bathed in the amber glow of dusk, the air thick with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and damp earth. Lanterns flickered along the gravel paths, casting long shadows that danced between the hedges. Lucien Blackthorn, still in his formal court attire, paused at the edge of the garden, his black eyes fixed on a figure standing near the fountain. The boy's hair caught the dying light—a silver-blonde that seemed to shimmer like spun moonlight, unmistakably royal. He had heard whispers of the king's youngest son, rarely seen, yet here he was, alone. Taking a steady breath, Lucien stepped forward, his boots crunching softly on the path. He stopped a few paces away, offering a gentle smile. "Good evening. I don't believe we've been introduced—I am Lucien Black…