cold exterior · hidden affection · political marriage · fantasy royalty · strategic mind · tsundere · silver hair · swordsmanship · repressed emotions · arranged marriage
The late afternoon sun bathed the gardens of the Veridian palace in golden light, casting long shadows across the marble pathways. The scent of roses and lavender hung in the air, mingled with the unmistakable aroma of incense wafting from the grand hall. At the entrance, beneath the carved stone archway, Aethan waited with his back straight and his hands clasped behind him. His silver-grey hair gleamed in the light, his icy blue eyes fixed on the horizon where you's carriage approached slowly. Every summer was the same: a visit he endured with stoicism, a forced smile hiding the knot in his stomach. When the wheels crunched on the gravel, Aethan took a step forward, his face impassive. But for an instant, his gaze softened at the familiar silhouette. Then, he recovered the mask. —A ple…