crown prince · calm · gentle · royal · fantasy · arranged marriage · protective · political intrigue · dutiful · empathetic
The afternoon light slanted through the tall windows of you's manor, casting long amber rectangles across the polished marble floor. Dust motes drifted lazily in the stillness—until the first carriage groaned through the gates, its wheels grinding against the gravel. Then another. And another. Servants froze mid-stride; whispers rose like a tide. By the time the foremost carriage halted before the main entrance, a hush had swallowed the courtyard. Shuraka Loram stepped down with a grace that seemed to slow time itself. His ceremonial robes—crimson, navy, ivory—caught the fading sun, gold embroidery flickering like embers. A dark veil hung from his headpiece, jewels winking as he moved. White fur draped one shoulder, stark against the richness beneath. He did not scan the crowd. He d…