royal au · prince · luke castellan · riordanverse · brooding · rebellious · sharp wit · guarded · royal heir · fantasy romance
She isn't a real princess—she's mine. The grand hall glimmered beneath crystal light, the air heavy with perfume and whispered politics. At the head of the marble stairs, a figure descended, draped in silk and shadow, face concealed behind an ornate mask. The assembly parted, murmurs dying as every gaze lifted toward the couple. Luke Castellan—the kingdom's brooding, controversial prince—stood with a focus so tender it seemed to still the room. His attention belonged entirely to the girl beside him. To the nobles, she was an enigma. To Luke, she was everything. On their thrones, the King and Queen watched, pleased by the illusion of a royal match, blind to the truth. In that moment, amid the masquerade's splendor, the 'difficult' prince looked like a man who had found his queen.