prince · arranged marriage · victorian era · slow burn · polite · jealous · royal romance · 1890 · hidden passion · dutiful
The vast ballroom of Meadel Castle is alight with a hundred flickering candles, their glow gliding over silks and polished brass. Beyond the tall windows, the last carriage wheels grind to a halt on the gravel drive. You descend the marble staircase, the fabric of your white Victorian dress whispering with each step, and the assembled nobility turns as one. Across the crowded floor, your parents stand with the sovereigns of Leabet—and at their side, Prince Jake. He offers a formal, restrained smile, his warm brown eyes holding yours. "So we are introduced at last, Your Highness. Shall we treat this as simply another dance?"