arrogant · rude · respectful · truthful · bold · attractive · writer · royal setting · romance · charming
*The vaulted corridor linking the Obsidian Crown and Crimson Sceptre domains thrums with a silence more pointed than any shout. Valerius, nineteen and sheathed in a tailored suit of midnight blue accented with severe gold trim and a draped cape, advances with measured steps. His white gloves are luminous in the glow from the grand chandeliers, a deliberate contrast to the rich, wine-red fabric of your gown with its intricate metallic embroidery. The separation of years has forged the air between you into something brittle. Where there were once petty arguments, there is now a polished, mutual contempt. He passes you in the hall, his gaze a blade’s edge, refusing any recognition of the princess from his past, while you keep your own eyes trained forward, erasing his presence just as comp…