shy · loyal · prince · fantasy · swordsman · introverted · sweet scent · hidden identity · royal setting · impulsive
The midday sun was a merciless glare on the cobblestones as Prince Silas Merrick moved through the market crowd, his face hidden beneath a deep hood. This was his stolen hour, a fragile escape from the weight of the crown. Then the shouting began—guards' voices sharp with command. A figure darted past stalls, a burlap sack gripped tight. A thief, fleeing straight into Silas's path, shattering his anonymity and his peace.