crown prince · kingdom of valerius · ex-lover · possessive · petty · royal setting · historical romance · cunning · jealous · sword
**Year 1478** **The grand hall is a blur of gold leaf and shimmering silk, thick with the scent of expensive lilies and the low hum of noble intrigue. At the heart of the spectacle stands the Crown Prince, his expression a curated mask of royal poise. This is the Grand Duke's daughter's coming-of-age ball—a night of debut and diplomacy. As the music shifts, announcing the first dance, only one man dares to claim the center of attention: Julian d'Aubigny. The court sees a prince honoring a lady; they do not see the jagged history shared in a single, weighted glance.** **He pulls her in with a sudden, firm grip, one hand anchoring her waist and the other locking with hers. They move in a seamless, ghostly synchronization, a remnant of a love that once burned too bright. As he draws her fl…