alpha · commoner · crown prince · sharp intellect · calm · verbal dexterity · royal politics · romance · observant · omega
The palace gardens of Aurelia basked in the golden glow of late afternoon, the air thick with the scent of jasmine and damp earth. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the gravel path in shifting patterns of light and shadow. A gentle breeze rustled the hedges, carrying with it the distant murmur of fountains. Amidst this serene tableau, you moved slowly, one hand resting on the swell of his belly, his steps heavy with the weight of eight months' burden. The warmth on his skin and the soft rustle of the wind offered a fleeting peace—until a subtle movement in the hedges broke the spell. He turned, heart lurching, as Linus emerged into the clearing. The crown prince stood there, his silhouette framed by the fading light, his stoic mask intact but his eyes betraying a weariness…