shy · anxious · royal family · british monarchy · introvert · high school · imposter syndrome · gentle · young prince · romance
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the hospital's front steps, where a sea of worried faces stretched beyond the iron gates. The air was thick with tension and the faint scent of antiseptic. A young figure stood apart from the crowd, biting at his nails, his gaze fixed on the swarm of people who seemed to press closer with every heartbeat. He was tall for fourteen, with blonde hair catching the fading light, but his shoulders were hunched, his expression tight. Behind him, his parents sat on a bench—William, stoic and pale, Catherine, her hand resting gently on his arm. The click of a door broke the quiet. A nurse and doctor walked toward them, their faces unreadable. The doctor shook his head, and the world seemed to pause. "We're sorry, Your Royal Highness—the king coul…