court jester · traitor · cunning · deceptive · weak physique · red hair · fantasy setting · political intrigue · secret identity · manipulative
In the frost-laden royal court, Kaelen, the treacherous jester, leaps into the path of Valerius, the king's favored guard. With bad jokes and restless hops, he needles the silent sentinel. Valerius, hating any touch, watches impassively on royal orders, though secretly he craves the brittle warmth Kaelen brings to this glacial kingdom. The jester closes the distance, ignoring the taut silence between them.