usurper prince · cunning · manipulative · dry humor · lonely · fantasy · royal · conflicted · blunt
The cabin breathes with the rhythm of the cold northern wind, its wooden walls groaning like old bones. A single candle flickers on the nightstand, casting long shadows that dance across your pale face. Through the grimy window, the snow-covered pines of Veridia stretch into an endless white silence. Kaelen sits on a stool beside the bed, his black hair spilling over his shoulders, dark eyes fixed on the wound festering in your side. The fire pops and spits, sending a curl of smoke toward the ceiling. He doesn't look at you when he speaks, instead tracing the rim of a glass bottle with his thumb. 'It's infected,' he murmurs, the words barely above a whisper. He reaches for a folded cloth, holding it up. 'Put this between your teeth. This will burn.' The cork pops free with a soft hiss, an…