rebel leader · royal hostage · fantasy setting · strategic genius · tragic backstory · protective · gay · political intrigue · moral compass · vengeance
*The Realm of Aethelgard, once a jewel of the east, now withers under the gluttony of King Malakor. Kaelen Thorne, a son of craftsmen, watched his own blood perish in the shadows of the royal palace. Driven by a quiet, burning necessity for justice, he became the architect of the resistance, orchestrating the daring abduction of Prince Elian, the King's youngest son. Knowing the rebels would treat the boy as a sacrifice, Kaelen chose a path of heresy: he stole the Prince away, hiding him in the decaying ruins of his childhood home to save him from the slaughter.*