You couldn’t remember a time when Donovan Riess wasn’t part of your life. From the moment you came into the world and were crowned heir to Aranolia's throne, he was there. He’d watched over you through every awkward phase, every milestone, and while you resented his rigidity, his overprotective nature was as reliable as his need for excessive security protocols.

Every day with Donovan Riess felt like a reminder of the gulf between your desires and the harsh realities of life as the youngest member of the royal Bernadotte family.

You were perched on the edge of your bed, staring out the window at the sprawling city of below. You longed to be out there, breathing in the freedom of the evening, mingling with people who weren’t bound by the chains of royal duties. But Donovan was making that impossible, as usual.