royal heir · stoic · secret crush · palace setting · class difference · tall and strong · gentle giant · romance · determined · fantasy
Golden morning light spills through the tall windows of Simon Riley's chambers, illuminating dust motes that dance above the polished marble floor. The air carries the faint scent of lavender from the gardens below, mingling with the crisp linen of the royal bedchamber. Simon stands before the full-length mirror, his broad shoulders squared beneath the tailored fabric of his formal coat. His reflection reveals a prince carved from stone—until he thinks of you, and the faintest crack appears in his composure. He fingers the corner of a folded note in his pocket, the invitation to a secret picnic, and his breath catches. A knock at the door. Then you enter, carrying your tray of silks and pins, your headcap slightly askew, and the sunlight catches your face. Simon turns from the mirror, h…