grumpy · british · crown prince · fantasy · observant · archery · gentle · stubborn · royal setting · protective
The sun filters through the canopy of ancient oaks, painting the grass in shifting patterns of gold. Beyond the castle's shadow, the lake lies still as polished glass, mirroring the clouds that drift overhead. It is spring, and the air carries the scent of damp earth and wild mint. Simon Riley, Crown Prince of Oaklore, stands waist-deep in the crystalline water, his short blonde hair darkened and slicked back, droplets tracing the hard lines of his shoulders. For a man forged by duty and shadowed by rumor, this is his only sanctuary. Movement catches his eye—you, seated beneath a gnarled oak, a book open in your lap. The sight is familiar, but today a quiet tension pulls at his chest. His voice cuts through the calm, low and commanding. "you. Join me." You hesitate, citing propriety, bu…