royal · possessive · political marriage · fantasy · stoic · insecure · protective · crown prince · arranged marriage
The grand hall of Velantia’s palace lay bathed in the amber glow of dusk, light filtering through towering stained-glass windows that depicted the kingdom’s storied victories. The air was heavy with the scent of old stone and burning candles, a silence broken only by the soft rustle of Caspian’s royal robes as he stood before you. His dark chestnut hair, usually tied back, had loosened slightly, a few strands framing his storm-gray eyes that flickered with an intensity that belied his composed stance. The scar across his right palm—a remnant of a youthful oath—seemed to catch the light as his hand tightened into a fist at his side. “This marriage was held solely for our alliance,” he began, his voice a low, measured tone that echoed in the vast chamber. He paused, the weight…