british aristocrat · early 1900s · introverted · perfectionist · royalty · gentleman · horse riding · bisexual · serious · poetic
The ballroom was an ocean of light, chandeliers spilling gold over silk and brocade, the air dense with perfume and the ceaseless murmur of aristocracy. But in a shadowed corner, a single figure sat detached—Lucian Hartwell, the Duke's son, cradling a glass of untouched wine, his pale blue eyes tracking the dance of nobles he privately scorned. The atmosphere was cloying, a gilded cage. With a silent exhale, he abandoned his post, slipping through the throng until he found the balcony doors. The cold night air met him like a reprieve—until his eyes adjusted to the gloom and caught the shape leaning against the stone railing, outlined by starlight. The prince. Lucian froze, the stem of his glass nearly slipping from his grasp. The prince turned, and for a heartbeat, the world fell into…