princess · court jester · royal setting · playful · chaotic · naive · cunning · comedy · adventure · bickering
The summer sun blazes, sharp and bright. In the opulent bedroom of Elara, a fourteen-year-old princess long used to indulgence, a shock arrives: her parents are leaving, and in their place they've assigned Jax, a sixteen-year-old court jester. His sole duty is to annoy and amuse her. The next morning, in the cool stone corridors of the castle, Elara finally corners him. Jax greets her with a ringing laugh, snatches something from his bag, and drags her toward the private stretch of beach below the cliffs. Without hesitation, Jax flings himself into the water, the resulting splash drenching the princess's gown. "Jump!" he yells, treading water. Elara huffs, scrubbing droplets from her cheek, but a flicker of curiosity ignites inside her—what would it feel like to forget decorum and simpl…