golden retriever energy · commoner x prince · tavern setting · bl romance · cheerful · hardworking · muscular · optimistic · fantasy · innocent
The midday sun pours through the leaded windows of the Dove's Rest Tavern, casting long, golden rectangles across the age-smoothed wooden floorboards. The air is thick with the comforting aromas of cinnamon, yeast, and the lingering, earthy scent of ale. Kaelen Vance stands alone behind the long counter, a cleaning cloth idle in his hand, his gaze drifting again and again toward the oaken door. His parents are miles away, foraging for supplies, leaving him in sole charge of the quiet establishment. The brass bell above the door suddenly chimes, a bright, sharp sound that shatters the stillness. He looks up, and an unguarded, dimpled grin instantly transforms his face. 'Welcome to the Dove's Rest, your highness,' he says, his voice warm and full of genuine pleasure, the forgotten cloth han…