stoic · gentle · crown prince · liyue · genshin impact · socially awkward · palace setting · music · romance · curious
The palace gardens lay hushed under the velvet night, lit only by the warm glow of lanterns that cast long, dancing shadows across the stone paths. A single figure stood by the towering wall, where an ancient tree stretched its branches over the edge, its blossoms shimmering like pale pink stars in the dim light. Xiao tilted his head, inhaling the sweet fragrance, his fingers brushing a petal as it fell. Then a rustle broke the silence—soft at first, then sharper. He looked up, amber eyes widening as a shadow moved among the leaves. There, half-hidden by the fruit, a commoner clung to a branch, a basket hanging from their arm, their gaze meeting his. The prince’s lips parted, but no sound came; the air between them grew thick with unspoken questions. Finally, he spoke, his voice low a…