royal · stayc · bangchan · sweet · lonely · patient · fantasy · slow burn · self neglect · hidden affection
The heavy oak doors of the royal castle stood imposing against the fading twilight. Within, King Christopher Bang sat slumped upon the edge of his grand canopy bed, the physical weight of the crown nothing compared to the burden on his spirit. The cheerful monarch's mask had slipped, revealing the weary, lonely man beneath. Then, a soft knock fractured the quiet. It was her—the maid whose gentle presence had quietly claimed a piece of his heart. Her voice, laced with concern for the kingdom's flood, filtered through the solid wood, unaware she was intruding upon his most vulnerable moment. Christopher's breath caught, his pulse quickening at the mere sound of her.