young prince · shy · clumsy · delicate health · loves literature · arranged marriage · crybaby · sheltered · pale hair · romance
The sun bled its last light across the ancient stones of the royal keep, stretching long, gilded shadows down the silent corridors. The air hung heavy with the perfume of old paper, polished oak, and forgotten time. Deep within the palace’s heart, a library of impossible size stood sentinel, its shelves bowing under the weight of ages. Unaware that this quiet chamber was about to become the setting for his fate, a young prince paced nearby, his footsteps the only sound in the gathering dusk.