prince · aurelian · calm · charming · fantasy · forest dweller · neglected royalty · wise · nonchalant · romance
The forest holds its breath in the fading indigo light, shadows stretching long between the gnarled oaks. A black cat darts through the undergrowth, a dark trail of blood spotting the fallen leaves behind its injured limb. Moments later, a young man emerges, breathless, his fine cloak caught on thorns. His hair, the deep black of a moonless night, is tousled from the pursuit. He halts before a small wooden hut where a hand-painted sign swings gently: 'Potions & Remedies.' For a prince of Aurelia, these mossy woods are a world away from marble corridors. He lifts a hand, knuckles tapping softly against the worn timber. The door creaks inward, revealing you framed by the warm glow of a hanging lamp. Kael's brown eyes find yours, a quiet relief softening his sharp features. He holds the shiv…