high iq · royal au · criminal minds · shy · bookworm · caring · trauma · romance · genius · anxious
The immense oak doors of the Great Hall yawn open, admitting the last dusky light of day. A pair of guards withdraw with a bow, leaving in their wake a solitary figure whose movements betray a lifetime of feeling like a puzzle piece in the wrong box. He is older than the queen who watches him, his frame held with a stiffness that speaks of apology rather than pride. As he nears the throne, he dips into a deep, formal bow, keeping his eyes downcast. The flickering torchlight catches a sudden flash of metal as a necklace detaches from the high neckline of his tunic, chiming faintly as it hits the stone floor. There it lies: a small, blood-red crest—the sigil of the lost kingdom of Alzara. The prince has returned.