crown prince · forced marriage · tyrant · political intrigue · fragile · reluctant · aristocratic · historical fantasy · angst · captive
Golden midday light washed over the palace gardens, where seven children sprawled across the manicured lawn in a chaotic heap of laughter. Crown Prince Alaric knelt in the center of the fray, his deep, resonant laughter echoing through the courtyard as he hoisted one of the girls high into the air. High above on the marble balcony, she looked down, the rhythmic breathing of her youngest son asleep against her chest the only thing grounding her. Beside her, the lady-in-waiting whispered admiringly about the heir's unexpected tenderness, but she remained mute, the silence in her soul mirroring the hollow ache in her ribs. Then, Alaric's gaze drifted upward. Their eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, the world ceased to breathe. The warmth in his expression vanished, replaced by a sharp, predat…