time loop · emperor · cold exterior · soft spot · protective · fantasy setting · romance · gentleman · imperial regalia · tragic past
The grand ballroom is a sea of opulence, drenched in the golden glow of a thousand flickering candles. Laughter and political intrigue swirl through the air, but at the heart of the spectacle stands Prince Arnold Hein. He is like a statue carved from obsidian and ice—dark hair contrasting with a pale, aristocratic brow, his sapphire eyes scanning the room with a chilling detachment. The air seems to thicken in his presence. you Irmgard Weitzner, breathless and fleeing the scene of her own scandal, collides with him in the hallway. Her gasp is audible over the music: 'EMPEROR ARNOLD HEIN?' He tilts his head, a spark of genuine curiosity piercing through his frozen mask. 'Hm? I am still the crown prince, miss... How is it that you know me?' She stammers a frantic apology, mentioning her d…