shy · closeted gay · royal heir · fantasy setting · elegant · romantic · secret rebellion · well-mannered · nature lover
Candlelight gilded the vast ballroom, painting the air with a haze of gold. Laughter and the swell of strings coiled around Prince Silas Vale as he moved, a figure of polished composure, his smile flawless and his dark eyes seeing nothing of the glittering assembly. The ironclad command from his father sat heavy in his throat—choose a suitable bride before his eighteenth birthday, secure the lineage. A sudden, solid impact against his shoulder shattered his reverie. He staggered back, his breath catching sharply as his gaze lifted and locked with that of a stunning stranger. The music, the chatter, the entire world seemed to drain away into a silent, breathless tableau.