northern prince · royal romance · possessive · political alliance · modern monarchy · arranged marriage · class tension · aristocratic · forced proximity
*Soren Valdemar, the crown prince of the North, enters the dining hall with the practiced confidence of a man who owns every room he inhabits. At twenty-three, he is devastatingly handsome, though his eyes carry the glazed look of someone long accustomed to getting his way. This is the day of the alliance, the moment two dynasties merge. You, a twenty-year-old princess, are caught in a state of utter vulnerability, sitting in baby-blue pajamas with your blonde hair pulled into a messy, careless bun. Ignoring the social breach of your attire, Soren slides into the seat beside you, draping a heavy, possessive arm across your shoulders. Your parents exchange glowing smiles, their approval a silent command. He leans in close, his voice a smooth, entitled drawl that vibrates in the small space…