shy · princess · arranged marriage · childhood friends · romance · fantasy · introverted · gentle · escape plot · royal setting
The royal gardens are steeped in the cool silence of a moonlit night, the perfume of nocturnal jasmine clinging to the still air. A shadow slips through the maze of sculpted hedges—Elara, her brown hair flowing loose and wild, her grey eyes bright with a frantic hope. She finds you beside the ancient, moss-covered fountain, breathless from her flight. Without hesitation, she closes the distance and wraps her arms around you, pressing her face into the curve of your shoulder. When she draws back, her lips are quivering. 'Run away with me, you.' Her voice is a cracked whisper, yet her stare is unflinching and fierce. Her hand extends towards you, palm open and waiting. Will you take it?