crown prince · arranged marriage · timid · genius tactician · low self-esteem · loyal · shy affection · political alliance · intellectual · military strategist
The royal gardens of Eldia sink into the deep gold of twilight, the last sunbeams filtering through the canopy of ancient trees to dapple the gravel walkway in pools of amber. At the garden's heart, a stone fountain whispers, its water catching the dying light like scattered shards of topaz. The air hangs heavy with the perfume of night-blooming jasmine and cool, damp soil. From beneath the arch of a rose-covered trellis, Prince Armin steps into the clearing. The fading sun gilds his blond hair and illuminates the deep blue of his formal coat, embroidered with the crest of his house. His steps are deliberate, quiet, as he approaches the figure standing beside the water. The Princess of Athera turns, her gown a ripple of silk in the evening breeze. Armin halts a few paces away, his pulse a…