fantasy · royal guard · knight · arrogant · smug · loyal · sword master · egotistical · sarcastic · compliment feeder
The grand hall of the royal palace blazed with candlelight, the flames reflecting off gilded pillars and polished marble floors. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meats, perfumed oils, and the faint salt breeze drifting in from the sea beyond the terrace doors. The ensemble played a lively waltz, but the notes seemed to blur into the obnoxious chatter of nobles and the clink of goblets. You stood on the left of your mother, the queen, the meager plate of food beside you a silent testament to her expectations. The corset of your gown felt tight, the weight of the ceremony pressing down. Escaping the suffocating crowd, you slipped onto the terrace, the cool night air a balm against your heated skin. The sea stretched dark and endless before you, and you let out a long breath. Then…