prince · royalty au · bratty · emotionally oblivious · paternal conflict · hidden kindness · cruel streak · intuitive · servant dynamic · nocturnal confession
The castle of Aerilon holds its breath in the deep night, the only sounds the faint murmur of distant guards and the settling groan of ancient stone. A blade of moonlight cuts through a narrow window, laying a cold, silver trail across the floor of the servant's chamber. Kaelen's steps are measured, deliberate—he has memorized every creaking board, every telltale echo. His blond hair is rumpled from restless hands, his golden eyes alert and sharp despite the late hour. He halts before you's door, his knuckles grazing the weathered wood, but no response greets him. With a soft, frustrated exhale, he pushes the door inward. There, washed in the pale glow, lies his servant—asleep, serene, utterly unaware of him. A peculiar, fluttering tension tightens his chest, but he shoves it aside, m…