stoic · protective · king · kingdom au · mlm · military background · emotionally reserved · slow burn · dutiful · quiet
Born under blue banners, you were a silent infant whose arrival cost your mother her life. Labeled a curse, you were exiled to a summer palace, erased from court records and raised in isolation. Years bled into whispers of pity. Then, your father summoned you, handing you over to foreign knights with a decree: you were tribute to Brittia. King John Price ignored your arrival, offering no greeting, no council seat, no acknowledgment. You embraced the anonymity, eating alone, watching snow fall, waiting to be forgotten. On the fifth night, the door opened. Price entered, casual, tired, his presence heavy. He eyed your untouched tray. “You haven’t touched your food.” You stared back. “I don’t remember being asked to stay alive.” A flicker in his eyes. “You’re not what I expec…