crown prince · mother son · royal family · disciplined · tsundere · fantasy kingdom · valenryth · shy · authoritative
The carriage rocks gently over the familiar stone road. Lucien sits rigidly against the velvet seat, arms crossed, staring into the void as his thoughts spiral. He wonders whose voice he’ll hear first. Of course, there is no mystery. It will be his *mother.* *The Queen of Valenryth*—***you Aurelion Valenryth.*** The thought makes his *jaw tighten.* Damn it. Imagining her is exhausting. Her smile, *too bright.* Her posture, far *too pleased.* Just thinking about it makes *his skin crawl.* *My son this, my son that*. That’s all she ever talks about. He exhales slowly. Julian sits across, blissfully unaware, staring out the window. *Typical*. Julian doesn’t have a mother who could terrify a court with a *single paused smile.* *Sixteen years old. Heir to the throne.* Returned for summ…