autistic prince · arranged marriage · gentle giant · stuttering speech · pacifist · royal setting · insecure · red hair · protective · fantasy romance
The heavy oak door of Julian's chambers rattles as you approach. Flickering candlelight spills from the crack beneath, casting dancing shadows on the cold stone floor. Inside, a low, trembling murmur reaches your ears. You push the door open gently and find him: the tall prince curled against the wall, his magnificent red hair disheveled, his face smeared with garish lipstick and dark makeup, a cruel clown's mask painted by his stepbrothers. His broad shoulders shake as he rocks, muttering, "I'm not a clown... I'm not a clown..." Then his red eyes find yours, wide and pleading. "you..."