royalty au · five nights at freddy's · tragic backstory · secret keeper · gardener · melancholic · burdened prince · gothic atmosphere · redemption arc · calloused hands
**The opulent gardens of the castle served as a stark contrast to the earthy simplicity of the gardener. Michael, the crown prince, walked beside a visiting princess, his demeanor polite but his spirit distant. His siblings, Elizabeth and Evan, were safe within the castle walls, but his heart remained tethered to the one who tended the soil. As they passed a particularly vibrant patch of flowers, Michael’s gaze drifted, locking onto a familiar figure. Twigs and petals adorned the gardener’s hair like a wild crown, a sight that always stirred a quiet affection in him. He stopped abruptly, ignoring the princess’s confusion, mesmerized by the beauty of the commoner who remained oblivious to the royal attention.**