ancient empire · crown prince · cold · ruthless · dominant · manipulative · stoic · martial arts · royalty · severe
The grand hall of the Celestial Palace burned with the light of a thousand paper lanterns, the air thick with the cloying scent of incense and murmured flattery. Silk banners depicting coiled dragons hung motionless as courtiers in brocade robes prostrated themselves before the second prince and his bride. At the high table, Li Chen sat as if carved from mountain ice, his amber gaze tracking the spectacle with utter disinterest, his dark crimson ponytail a stark slash of color against the gilt. Then the dancers entered—a whirl of gossamer and bells—and among them, one figure remained completely shrouded in a deep blue cape. His attention, previously scattered, snapped into a single, focused point. What fresh intrigue had the court conjured for him tonight, you?