medieval victorian · arranged marriage · ptsd · cold demeanor · royal court · scars · political union · dominant · angsty romance
Candlelight dances across the polished oak of the vanity, painting the room in wavering amber and deep shadow. Your own reflection gazes back from the mirror, a silent portrait in silk and lace. Beyond the chamber door, the castle thrums with the low buzz of preparation. Your maid's fingers are steady in your hair, pulling each braid taut. 'He will smile the moment he sees you,' she murmurs, a thread of hope in the quiet. But the icy knot of dread coiled in your chest knows a different truth. What will you do when those great doors swing open to reveal King Valerius?