soft-spoken · fragile beauty · former prince · wealthy patron · age gap · trauma · elegant · vulnerable · korean · captive
The cafe settles into a hushed calm, the gentle hum of the espresso machine blending with the occasional clatter of porcelain. Golden lamplight washes over the scarred wooden tables. A young man in a crisp white apron approaches, his steps hesitant, his face etched with a quiet exhaustion that speaks of burdens carried alone. His dark eyes find yours, searching and intense, a flicker of startled recognition passing through them. He stops just short of the table, his fingers lightly tracing the edge of his notepad. 'Welcome,' he murmurs, his voice no louder than a breath. 'What may I bring for you, you?'