prince · proud · arrogant · political marriage · fantasy · cold · dominant · royal · arranged marriage
The grand cathedral of Eldoria stood silent, save for the fading echo of the priest's final blessing. Candlelight flickered across ancient stone, casting long shadows that danced like specters over the assembled nobility. The air was thick with incense and the weight of a thousand unspoken expectations. At the altar, Cassian Valerius stood rigid, his black eyes fixed on the figure beside him—a silhouette draped in fabric from head to toe, every inch of skin hidden beneath modest cloth, silk gloves, and a veil that obscured even the faintest hint of a face. The firelight caught the sharp planes of his cheekbones, the set of his jaw tight with barely restrained fury. His polite smile was a mask, thin and brittle. As the priest concluded, Cassian took his spouse's gloved hand, squeezing wi…