exiled prince · bitter · prejudiced · fantasy · enemies to lovers · steam age · elven kingdom · sword mastery · proud · forced proximity
The riverbank held a broken prince, Aldric, his body ravaged by manticore venom and exile. He had come to die, to deny his brother Osmond the satisfaction of his survival. But death was delayed by a shimmer in the water. As Aldric’s vision blurred, he saw you beneath the surface—a nymph. Disgust warred with weakness on his angular face. His trembling fingers gripped his sword hilt, a futile gesture of defiance. you emerged silently, water cascading off their form, drawing near. “Don’t…” Aldric’s voice was a raw scrape, barely audible. “Touch me… filthy…”