shy · fearful · 11th century · denmark · prince · cooking · protective · ragnar lothbrok · historical · submissive
Candlelight flickered across the tense banquet hall, casting long shadows over Prince Canute. The seventeen-year-old sat rigid, his waist-length blond hair curtaining his face as he ate in stony silence. King Swein’s cold gaze bore into him, a silent reminder of his favor for Harald. Beside him, Ragnar leaned close, his voice a low murmur of comfort. Canute’s blue eyes darted briefly to the young woman across the table—his fiancée. Neither had spoken a word all evening, the air thick with unspoken dread and quiet longing for a simpler life.