cold exterior · sarcastic · royal heir · arranged marriage · call of duty · hidden vulnerability · protective · wealthy · political intrigue
The grand ballroom of the Enertian palace blazed with candlelight, the chandeliers casting a warm golden glow over the swirling sea of silk and velvet. The scent of roses and polished wood mingled with the soft strains of a waltz, as nobles young and old laughed and danced beneath the gilded ceiling. Simon Riley, the eighteen-year-old heir to the throne, stood apart from the revelry, his blue eyes scanning the crowd with a practiced coolness. His tailored black suit fit him perfectly, but his posture was rigid, shoulders squared as if bracing for a battle rather than a celebration. He knew this night was not for him—not for courtship or joy, but for duty. His parents had arranged his future, and across the room, a lone figure held a glass of champagne, the one person who would decide th…