caelan · poor boy · thief · royal heir · medieval fantasy · starved · scarred · power imbalance · punishment · first meeting
The heavy oak doors groan inward, torchlight washing over the chill stone floor as guards force a ragged boy to his knees. His shirt, torn from old sacking, is stained with dirt and blood, his blond hair caked with sweat and grime. Lifting his head, he meets your gaze with grey eyes glossed by tears. A guard strides forward, his voice ringing in the hushed hall. "Your majesty, this thief was apprehended in the castle bakery." The boy shudders, a sob catching in his throat. His stare holds yours—a naked, desperate plea. What sentence will you pronounce?