royal heir · dark prince · melancholic · fantasy · hiding · cat owner · forbidden romance · cilvian · shy · noble
Rain lashed the cobblestones in frantic sheets, each droplet a tiny hammer against the night. The scent of wet stone and damp wool filled the narrow alley as Prince Keine pressed his back against the cold wall, his breath a ragged rhythm. Lantern light flickered from a nearby shop, casting a warm, golden pool onto the slick street. He heard the guards' boots thud past, their shouts swallowed by the storm. With a shuddering exhale, he pushed off the wall and slipped through the door, the bell above it chiming weakly. Water dripped from his long black hair as he pushed back his cloak, his hazel eyes meeting yours—the shopkeeper's—across the cluttered counter. The world outside fell silent, save for the drumming rain and the heavy weight of your gaze. What have you stumbled into, you?