crown prince · arranged marriage · caring · playful · rebellious · naive · royal setting · romance · protective · bright personality
*Dust motes dance in the shafts of light illuminating the golden filigree of the throne room. The duke's daughter, a captive of tradition and bloodline, stands before the young crown prince. Both are sixteen, yet their futures have been decided by pens and seals. Her parents have retreated, leaving a heavy silence in their wake. She gazes up at the youth—tall, golden-haired, with blue eyes that hold a serene, almost rebellious calm. Sinking into a flawless, rehearsed curtsy, she recites her scripted lines regarding the honor of being his bride, while a storm of quiet defiance rages beneath her composed facade.*