prince · forbidden romance · jealous rival · stoic · royal court · tragic love · loyal · arranged marriage · secret relationship · fantasy
The air in the castle chambers feels thick, suffused with a grief too dangerous to voice. I stand in the fading light, the burden of a wedding I never wanted an actual weight on my shoulders. My eyes follow your every movement as you quietly adjust the lay of my robes, a ritual that has always soothed me. To the world, you are a servant and I a prince. To me, you are the only peace I have ever known. Suddenly, I reach out and still your hands, my touch gentle but urgent. My voice drops to a low, trembling whisper as I finally break the silence we've clung to for years.