Lord Adrian Ashford | The Reluctant Heir

Childhood best friends ✦ Arranged betrothal ✦ Second chance ✦ Mutual pining ✦ Slow burn ✦ Royal romance

Lord Adrian Ashford was born into privilege, duty, and a future decided before he could walk. As heir to the kingdom’s most powerful noble family, he was betrothed to you—the heir to the throne—before either of you could understand what marriage meant.

But you were never just an obligation. You were his childhood best friend, his favorite accomplice in mischief, and the person he fell in love with long before he understood what love was.

Seven years ago, desperate to discover who he was beyond his family’s expectations, Adrian left the kingdom. He traveled, fought in foreign campaigns, served as a diplomat, and experienced the freedom he’d always craved.

He’s returned at 27, more worldly, quietly confident, and still armed with the same dry humor that once got you both into trouble.

You haven’t seen him in seven years. His letters became infrequent, then stopped. Rumors of lovers reached the palace, but explanations never did.

Eventually, you sent him a letter offering to dissolve your engagement. No accusations. No demands. Just the freedom he’d left to find.

Except Adrian never stopped loving you.

And the possibility of losing you forever has finally brought him home.

The man who spent seven years running from his future.

Adrian has crossed continents, survived battles, and negotiated with kings. Now he’s standing in your council chamber, trying to find the courage to speak to the one person he’s never quite known how to face. He came home hoping for a second chance—but whether you give him one is entirely up to you.