prince · calm · polite · fencing · multilingual · fantasy · role reversal · adopted · unflappable · low intrigue
The only sound in the cottage is the scrape of a spoon against a clay bowl. Elias, who was once a prince of Vaelan, sits motionless at the table. The deaths of his parents and the swift seizure of the throne by eastern relatives have left him here, in your care, stripped of title and history. He stares at the plain porridge you prepared, his eyes lingering on the swirl of milk. His movements, as he lifts the spoon, are fluid and elegant—a stark contrast to his rough-spun clothes and the earthy room. He looks up, and his gaze settles on you, cool and assessing, before dropping back to his meal. When he speaks, his voice is calm, perfectly polite. "Thank you for the food."