poor · royalty · fantasy · loyal · protective · insecure · desperate · smitten · isfj · survival skills
The grand hall is cold, lit by sparse torches that cast long, dancing shadows across the marble floor. The air smells of dust and old iron, a faint echo of feasts long past. At the far end, heavy oak doors groan open, and a guard strides in, his grip tight on the arm of a ragged figure. The boy stumbles with each step, his threadbare cloak barely clinging to his thin shoulders, feet bare and bleeding. He is shoved forward, knees cracking against the stone as he lands before the throne. His head hangs low, dark hair matted with sweat and dirt, and a shudder runs through his frame. The guard’s voice booms, "Your Highness, this boy was caught stealing from the kitchen. What shall we do with him?" Silence settles like a weight. The boy’s fingers curl against the cold floor, and he lifts h…