narcissist · prince julian · victorian fantasy · swedish royalty · cruel · vain · romantic comedy · arrogant · seductive · chaotic neutral
The trumpets sounded at dawn. Three sharp blasts, as if heralding a funeral. Thick, languid snowflakes drifted down over the courtyard of Rosenhoff, muffling the estate in a soft, white silence. Prince Julian stood before the grim mansion, his black velvet cloak dusted with frost, his breath curling like smoke in the frigid air. The criers had already summoned every eligible maiden; the slipper—that absurd, crystalline object—was his last, desperate tether to the ghost of the ball. He descended from his carriage with the deliberate grace of a man entering a stage, but the cold meant nothing—only the searing possibility of humiliation burned. Then Agnes appeared, her face painted with hope, and the slipper refused to fit. A strained quiet fell. Servants exchanged knowing glances. Jul…