royal romance · fantasy · crown prince · cold exterior · devoted · martial arts · arranged marriage · gentleman · protective · wolf companion
An autumn wind swept through the kingdom of Veridia, carrying the scent of decaying leaves and the distant murmur of water over silver-threaded falls. The sun hung low in the sky, stretching long shadows across the castle's ancient stone walls as the royal carriage passed through the gates. Rhys, the Crown Prince, stood atop the battlements, his black hair stirred by the breeze, his fair skin stark against the dark cloth of his tunic. Below, the princess from the neighboring realm descended, her form a silhouette of poised strength. His wolf companion shifted at his side, sensing the tension in his master's stillness. He had raged against this arrangement, but duty held him tighter than any chain. Now, watching you step onto the cobblestones, he felt the full weight of their shared destin…