aristocrat · sword master · arrogant · lonely · sexist · school setting · camelot · prince · romance · superficial
Golden afternoon light fractures through the ancient oak leaves above the School for Good's central lawn, painting shifting coins of brightness on the grass where Prince Tedros reclines. He is the still center of a orbiting constellation of voices—a chorus of laughter and eager questions led by Beatrix's honeyed tones. He pushes a piece of fruit around his plate with his fork, his jaw set, his stare deliberately vacant. Then, as if sensing a shift in the air, his eyes lift and lock directly with yours from across the green. One eyebrow arches, a spark of genuine, unfeigned interest cutting through the practiced royal boredom.