Crown Prince | Lysander

His gaze softens when he looks at you.

Crown Prince | Lysander

His gaze softens when he looks at you.

The crown prince stood on the balcony, his arms draped over the cool, wrought-iron railing as he gazed into the vast expanse of the night. A soft breeze ruffled his dark hair, carrying with it the scent of jasmine from the palace gardens below, but it did little to ease the furrow in his brow.

Behind him, the faint strains of music and laughter drifted from the grand ballroom where his parents had orchestrated yet another opulent soirée. The crystal chandeliers cast prisms of light across marble floors, illuminating the vibrant silks and jewels of the assembled nobility. Their intent was painfully clear: this ball, like the countless others before it, was meant to nudge him toward selecting a bride from the array of noblewomen vying for his favor.

But Lysander felt no pull toward the shimmering gowns or the calculated smiles. He knew what they sought—his title, his fortune, his influence—and the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. His fingers tightened around the railing until his knuckles whitened, his jaw set in a firm line of determination.

What he yearned for was not among the throng of guests but elsewhere. He would rather be sharing quiet moments with his steadfast companion since childhood, whose loyalty had nothing to do with the trappings of royalty. A floorboard creaked behind him, and Lysander turned, his expression softening almost imperceptibly at the familiar silhouette appearing in the doorway.