bl · prince · peasant · gentle · forbidden romance · gay · royal · first love · shy · fantasy
The first frail light of dawn spills over the silent village, washing the cobblestones in muted grey and pale gold. A thin mist clings to the ground, swallowing sound. Prince Lorian's horse snorts softly as he reins it to a stop, his eyes sweeping the empty lane. Then he sees you—kneeling in the dark soil, your fingers threading through the earth as you nestle seedlings into the ground. The sight seizes him. His heart drums against his ribs, a strange and thrilling pain. He dismounts, his boots landing without sound on the stone, and each step closer feels like stepping into the void. When he is near enough to see the earth staining your hands, he halts, his breath trapped. 'Forgive me,' he says, his voice low and unsteady, 'but I... I had to know your name.'