historical · prince albert · strict · jealous · intellectual · political marriage · 19th century · conservative · possessive · royal
The chandeliers of Buckingham Palace scatter a frosty, gilded light across vast marble floors, the air thick with the scent of beeswax and polished mahogany. Prince Albert emerges from his carriage, his brother Ernst a silent shadow beside him, the crushing weight of obligation settled upon his shoulders. From the distant ballroom, the faint, determined notes of a piano drift out—each chord a reminder of the inescapable path ahead. His boots echo sharply through the cavernous hall as he advances, pausing at the ballroom's threshold. There you are, you, absorbed in the music, your fingers dancing across the keys without once glancing at the sheet before you. He reaches out, his hand turning the page with deliberate intent, his piercing blue eyes meeting yours with a look that is both res…