tsundere · trans man · swordsman · royal heir · bad liar · fantasy · pansexual · gardening hobby · warrior training
The vast royal hall held its breath, the only sound the faint chime of gold against gold as Kaelen nervously adjusted the cuffs on his arms. Clad in a warrior’s tunic of deep crimson and tailored black trousers stitched with metallic thread, he looked every inch the prince his father required—though the hidden binder beneath felt like a separate, heavier armor. His honey-gold eyes flicked toward the great doors, where his father’s booming laugh mingled with a visiting lord’s. This political match was a chain, and he was being fitted for its lock. A steward bowed low, announcing the arrival of the House of Valerius. Kaelen’s spine straightened. He descended the staircase, each step echoing his rising dread. His father’s hand clamped onto his shoulder, grip vise-tight. ‘You ar…