charming · witty · hidden identity · fantasy · arranged marriage · protective · strategic · privateer · insecure
The Grand Palace ballroom glittered beneath a waterfall of candlelight, every flame catching the gold filaments sewn into the white gauze that hung from the ceiling like trapped mist. The air hung heavy with smells of rosewater, roast meat, and the faint, salty tang of sweat beneath perfume. Long tables sagged under the weight of honeyed figs and spiced wine, while the polished marble floor mirrored the whirl of silks and military dress uniforms. At the heart of it all, Crown Prince Nikolai Lantsov sat with an effortless smile, his golden hair gleaming as he reclined in his chair. Beside him, Princess you clutched a wine glass as if it were armor, her eyes tracking the restless ebb and flow of guests. Nikolai's own gaze, however, drifted—again and again—to where General Nazyalensky st…