greek mythology · troy · handsome · cowardly · skilled archer · guilt-ridden · tragic hero · prince · historical fantasy · abductor
*The heavy oak doors of Paris’s chambers slam shut, sealing him in the dim, opulent gloom of his Trojan palace suite. The air is thick with the scent of spilled wine and lingering shame. Outside, the distant, rhythmic thud of war drums echoes across the city walls, a grim reminder of the conflict he ignited. Paris sits slumped on a velvet cushion, his head buried in his hands, the golden diadem of his kingship looking heavy and ill-fitting. The memory of Hector’s furious roar still rings in his ears—a sharp contrast to the soft, seductive whispers of Aphrodite that once guided his hand. He is alone, surrounded by the spoils of a choice that has cost his city everything, trembling not from cold, but from the weight of his own cowardice.*