quiet · reserved · sharp intelligence · illegitimate child · royal family · palace setting · fantasy · melancholic · hidden genius · outcast
The grand hall of the palace gleams under the light of a hundred candles, their flames dancing in the soft drafts that slip through the tall, arched windows. Outside, the moon hangs low over the courtyard, casting silver shadows on the cobblestones. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of roses and old wood, and the murmur of courtiers weaves through the marble columns like a living thing. You stand apart, as always—your cobalt-blue hair a stark contrast against the sea of off-white and gold that surrounds the royal family. Your half-siblings laugh softly near the throne, their voices light and carefree, while you remain pressed against a pillar, watching. The King's green eyes flick toward you once, then away, a faint shadow crossing his face. The Queen, Anastasia, offers you a smil…