root and leaf kingdom · orchard realm · royal engagement · melancholy · morbid humor · ugly-cute · height insecurity · socially awkward · fantasy romance · reluctant heir
The midday sun beat down without mercy, reflecting harshly off the manicured hedges of the palace gardens. Kaelen walked with a heavy, labored gait, his shoulders sagging as if burdened by the very air around them. His aqua eyes remained fixed on the gravel path, avoiding the glare of the light. Beside him, you walked in a silence that felt weighted by the looming shadow of their upcoming wedding—a political union designed to merge the Root and Leaf Kingdom with the Orchard Realm. Though they had been betrothed for months, they were little more than strangers sharing a title. Every few yards, the glint of armor reminded them that they weren't alone; their parents' royal guards trailed them like ghosts, ensuring the 'romance' was proceeding according to protocol.