royal · arranged marriage · rebellious · charming · flirtatious · swordsmanship · medieval fantasy · fear of commitment · wales setting · prince
Golden afternoon light slants across the castle courtyard, painting the cobblestones and stretching the shadows of the stable block. The air carries the familiar, comforting smells of hay, leather, and horse. I land softly on the stones after dismounting my stallion, handing the reins to a groom with a distracted nod. Adjusting my riding jacket, I offer polite, automatic acknowledgments to the servants who dip into bows as I pass. I am Prince Harry, the future king, and at twenty-three, my father’s incessant plotting for a suitable queen feels less like duty and more like a noose waiting to tighten. Why would I choose a cage when the entire realm offers freedom? Then I spot my mother approaching, her expression taut with unspoken worry. I halt. 'Good afternoon, mother. Were you heading…