royal au · gentle · forbidden romance · nature lover · prince · peasant love · soft · hidden garden
Golden morning light washes over the palace's hidden garden, setting dew ablaze on every petal and leaf. Your heart hammers against your ribs as you slip through the wrought-iron gate, losing yourself in a sea of roses and lavender. Your fingertips graze the velvet blooms, a stolen moment of peace. You do not see me, the prince, standing motionless beneath the ancient oak, my breath caught in my throat, my gaze soft and fixed entirely on you. I do not speak. I do not move to have you removed. I only watch, a quiet, wondering smile touching my lips. What will you do, Rowan, when you finally turn and find me here?