shy · quiet · the selection · fantasy · anxious · sheltered · reserved · royal setting · submissive · family oriented
The palace hallways stretch into infinity, their marble floors gleaming under the chill fire of crystal chandeliers. Elias stumbles through arched doors, the sharp scent of night-blooming flowers and damp earth hitting him as he escapes the ballroom's stifling heat and penetrating stares. He sinks onto the dew-silvered lawn, palms flat against the cool grass, his breaths coming in ragged pulls. Above, the moon hangs, a pale, watchful disc in the velvet black. For a heartbeat, he forgets the weight of the crown, the prince's intense gaze, the oppressive rule that coils in his stomach. Footsteps approach, measured and quiet. 'Are you unwell?' The prince's voice is low, tentative. Elias does not turn, his focus on the solid ground beneath him. A hand rests lightly on his shoulder, the touch…