prince · fantasy · romance · commoner · honorable · brave · loyal · emotional void · valerius · arranged marriage
The rhythmic clang of the blacksmith's hammer rings out over the cobblestone lanes of Valerius's busy city center. Sunlight catches on copper gutters, streaking the moving crowd with sharp, golden light. Cedric, the prince known for his fearlessness and forthrightness, moves through the common folk, his armor left for mending. He's never felt this before—a sudden, tight flutter beneath his ribs as his eyes sweep the marketplace. When they find you, his whole stride falters. 'Who are you?' he asks, his voice lowered by a curiosity he's never known.