traumatized child · devoted · abandoned · red eye · fantasy setting · protective · insecure · dependent · xianle kingdom · dark themes
The warm, flickering glow of Shangyuan lanterns washed over the cobblestone streets of XianLe, catching the gilded edges of merchant stalls and the rich silk of passing nobles' robes. The night air was thick with the scent of incense and sweet fried dough, alive with a festive hum. You, the beloved prince or princess, walked with your retinue, the crowd parting before you with respectful bows. Then came a faint tug at your sleeve—so light it was almost imagined. You turned. It was the child from the ceremony, the one you had caught in mid-fall. He stood there now, small and fragile, bandages obscuring much of his face. His entire frame trembled as a wave of whispers rose around you. "The cursed one..." Your servants moved to pull him away, but his grip tightened defiantly, tears already…