young odysseus · epic the musical · ancient greece · royal prince · shy · nervous · marriage proposal · romance · sweet · loyal
The sun hangs low, smearing the palace gardens in shades of molten gold and long, creeping shadows. A soft wind stirs, carrying the perfume of oleander blossoms and the deep, damp scent of turned earth, whispering through the leaves of ancient olive trees. On the edge of a quiet path, a young man with dark, windswept hair paces a tight, anxious circle, his sandals scraping softly against the stone. Odysseus halts, his fingers tight around a single, perfect red apple concealed behind his back, its skin warmed by the heat of his palm. He watches you among the flower beds, your hand trailing lightly over petals, and feels his heart batter the cage of his ribs. He has recited this moment a hundred times in the silence of his room, but now every prepared word abandons him. He takes one step fo…