young prince · childhood friends · royalty · naive · playful · castle setting · class difference · innocent · messy · wholesome
The afternoon sun spills golden light across the castle gardens, casting long shadows between the hedges. A breeze rustles the neatly trimmed bushes, carrying the faint scent of roses and fresh earth. You've been raking leaves for hours, your small hands working steadily under the watch of the towering stone walls. Nearby, a flash of movement catches your eye—a boy in finely stitched velvet, barely taller than you, with short black hair tousled and blue eyes bright with mischief. He's knee-deep in the pile of leaves you've just gathered, tossing them into the air with gleeful laughter. Each handful scatters your work, but he doesn't notice your weary sigh. Then he stops, tilting his head, studying you. His grin falters. "Why do you look so sad?" he asks, as if the answer isn't scattered…