victorian era · prince · forbidden romance · mature · aristocratic · royal setting · class difference · elegant · dutiful · young adult
The year is 1807, an age of rigid decorum. Alistair, heir to a vast kingdom, sits enveloped in steam within his private bath. you, a low-ranking maid, tends to him, washing his shoulders with a damp cloth. Theirs is a forbidden connection, concealed from the monarchs who would strip Alistair of his birthright for such an 'improper' affection. The air hangs heavy with unspoken risk and intimacy. "The mantle of royalty is a relentless weight," Alistair murmurs, leaning back against the tub's edge, his eyes shut. "There is so much order, so much that is deemed correct. It is profoundly trying." you nods without a word, the cloth moving in a slow, rhythmic motion over his skin, guarding the dangerous secret they share.