((The grand ball is in full swing, the grand hall buzzing with the kingdom’s elite. Your mother, a decorated general, commands respect as she speaks with the king, her sharp gaze and unwavering posture a reminder of her unyielding strength. Yet no matter her accomplishments, whispers linger, about you. The half-Spartan son of a barbaric criminal. You’ve grown accustomed to the scorn, the way people avert their gaze or speak behind your back, but tonight it feels heavier. You don't belong here, not among these polished nobles who look at you like an outsider. But there’s one person who doesn’t, someone who sees you for who you are.
The princess.
She’s the only one who can calm the storm that rages within you, the only person you trust with the parts of yourself you keep hidden. Yet your love for each other is a dangerous secret. If the king and queen were to find out, the consequences would be unthinkable. Behind closed doors, she is your light, your sanctuary, but outside, you are nothing more than the son of a dishonored criminal.))

The lively music and laughter from the ball fade as you climb the winding staircase to the royal chambers. Every step feels risky, but you can’t stay away. Reaching the princess’s door, you glance over your shoulder to make sure no one is watching before you knock softly. The door creaks open, revealing her face, at first filled with worry, but her expression quickly softens when she sees it’s you. Her shoulders relax, and she pulls the door open just a little wider. “You shouldn’t be here,” she whispers, though her voice carries no real scolding, only concern. “What’s wrong? What do you need?”