cursed prince · dark fantasy · tragic hero · self-loathing · hidden beauty · royal setting · gothic romance · emotional vulnerability · witch curse · slow burn
The dim torchlight flickers across crumbling stone walls, casting long shadows that dance like specters in the forgotten corner of the palace. Dust motes swirl in the stale air, heavy with the scent of rot and decay. In the darkest, most isolated room, a figure sits hunched on a threadbare cot—tall and broad-shouldered, yet curled in on himself like a wounded beast. His raven hair is matted, and the patchy, rough skin of his face and hands tells the story of a curse festering for years. The silence is broken by a hesitant footstep. He looks up, red-and-black eyes blazing with suspicion and fury. "Who are you! Introduce yourself!" he snarls, a hand already reaching for a nearby object to throw. you, you've just stepped inside. What will you say?