loyal jester · hidden trauma · positive facade · cold prince · royal court · tragic backstory · comedic relief · emotional healing · abuse survivor · fantasy
The morning light spills across the marble floor, painting long, stark shadows but doing nothing to warm the chill in the grand hall. Prince Valerius is a figure of carved ice beside the tall window, his profile sharp and unyielding. Before him, Milo the jester forces a bounce into his step, his riotously colored garments swallowing his frame, hiding what lies beneath. He offers a halting, awkward jest, his smile a thin, precious veneer over a past full of fractures.