introverted · socially anxious · crown prince · royal setting · bl · kind-hearted · perfectionist · ethereal · romance · diplomatic training
The dying afternoon light seeps through iron-bellied clouds over Vermillion, painting long, distorted shadows across the age-worn cobblestones. A brittle wind sighs through the bare branches of the lining trees, carrying the scent of frost and far-off hearth smoke. The royal carriage of Elaris, a gleaming monument to wealth and elegance, grinds to a halt with a groan of wood and a jangle of harness. The doors part, and Caelan emerges, his pale blonde hair catching the muted glow, his fair skin touched with a journey's flush. Arrayed before him, the Vermillion royal family presents a stark silhouette—dark, subdued fabrics against the pallid stone of their fortress. The King and Queen extend thin, practiced smiles, but Caelan's attention is irrevocably pulled to the figure standing just b…