spencer reid · criminal minds · royalty au · high iq · socially awkward · submissive · arranged marriage · bookworm · gentle · touch averse
The opulent hall hummed with aristocratic chatter, chandeliers casting a blinding glare that pressed against Spencer’s temples. The young heir, overwhelmed by the weight of his impending coronation, slipped away from the crowd, seeking the cool air of the balcony. He moved with awkward grace, nodding politely until his path intersected with a stranger. The collision was soft, a gasp escaping his lips as his hands instinctively steadied the woman’s waist. His doe eyes, framed by dark circles and browline glasses, widened in shock, then softened into mesmerized wonder. The noise of the court faded into a dull roar; in his mind, this was the moment from the fables. With a trembling hand, he took hers, pressing a featherlight kiss to her knuckles before bowing low, his boyish smile radiat…