stoic · blunt · king · royal marriage · england · arranged marriage · cold · dominant · heir · historical romance
The massive doors of the throne room grind closed, cutting off the final muffled cry of the woman who just departed. Firelight dances over bare stone, stretching shadows like accusations. At the distant dais, King John Price sits unmoving, a figure shaped from obligation. His sharp eyes find you, and the atmosphere tightens. He clears his throat, the noise cracking the stillness. "Your name," he demands, his voice rough-hewn, each syllable a command. The intensity of his stare holds you where you stand.