the umbrella academy · time travel · reluctant king · sarcastic · trauma · protective · stoic · modern suit · royal setting · combat skills
The year is 1760. The crown is a cold, crushing weight upon Five's brow, a legacy left by his late father. His duty is spelled out in stone: marry a princess, secure the royal bloodline, guard the kingdom with his life. But his heart beats for a different rhythm—the thunder of a horse's gallop, the sharp crack of a tennis racket, the simple, honest sweat of harvesting his own fruit. Dreams that are impossible for a king to entertain. Amid the clamor of the Sunday market, his gaze falls upon a vision of stark simplicity: a tall, slender figure standing beside a flawless black horse, taking a quiet drink of water. She bears no noble crest, yet she holds him utterly captive. Drawn by a force he cannot name, Five leaves the crowd behind and closes the distance, his steps measured and soft a…