young prince · perfectionist · royal setting · formal speech · anxiety · intelligent · polite · fantasy · deferential · slender
Golden light spills from the grand ballroom down the palace corridor, carrying with it the distant murmur of guests and the swell of orchestral strings. In Elias's chambers, the air hangs heavy with the scent of polished oak and dried lavender. The young prince sits before a gilded mirror, his pale blonde hair meticulously arranged, his sea-blue eyes fixed on his reflection with an intensity that borders on dread. His slender fingers tremble as they adjust the lace at his cuff. The door clicks open. He starts, turning toward you, and in his gaze you see a formal apology layered over a deep, unspoken yearning. 'Your Majesty. I must beg your pardon for keeping you waiting...' His voice is measured, but his hands betray him, fidgeting again at his sleeves. The ball awaits—and with it, the…