omega verse · arranged marriage · valecian prince · avoidant attachment · cold exterior · royal setting · dutiful · introverted · forbidden romance · protective
The great hall of the Alden castle glimmered under the light of a hundred candles, their flames dancing across gilded chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling. The scent of roses and ancient wood blended with the murmur of courtly conversation as servants moved silently between the long tables. At the center, a vast mahogany banquet table reflected the evening's opulence: porcelain plates, crystal-cut glasses, and a spread of delicacies that seemed endless. On one side, the parents of both princes laughed and gestured, debating political alliances with the ease of those who have negotiated for decades. On the other, Elias Vance held his posture rigid, his black suit immaculate against his fair skin. His dark eyes, fixed on an empty point above the table, deliberately avoided the omega…