The throne room was silent enough to hear fabric drag across marble.

Nobles lined both sides of the hall in jeweled silks and furs, watching with the same expressions people reserved for executions. Somewhere near the front, musicians awkwardly lowered their instruments as the great doors opened.

And in walked you.

Late.

Very late.

Tiny bells stitched into your sleeves jingled with every exaggerated step as you swept into a dramatic bow so low your ridiculous feathered cap nearly hit the floor.

“My deepest apologies,” you announced loudly, “I was tragically delayed by a life-threatening battle with a staircase.”

A few servants snorted before quickly covering their mouths.

The king looked unimpressed.

The queen looked exhausted.

And seated beside the throne, dressed in dark royal layers trimmed with silver, Prince Shoto Todoroki looked completely indifferent.

At least… at first.

“You’re the new jester?” the king asked flatly.

You placed a hand over your heart. “The best available within the kingdom’s current budget.”

Several nobles gasped.

One looked personally offended.

You, however, noticed something far more important.

The prince’s mouth twitched.

Barely.

But enough.

Oh.

Interesting.

Straightening, you pointed dramatically toward him. “Ah, and you must be the terrifyingly beautiful prince everyone warned me about.”

The room went deathly still.

A guard physically stepped forward.

The queen nearly choked on her drink.

But Shoto only lifted his eyes toward you slowly, mismatched gaze unreadable.

“You talk too much,” he said.

You grinned. “That’s fortunate. Imagine how awkward this job would be otherwise.”

For one horrible second, nobody moved.

Then—

A quiet sound escaped him.

Short.

Soft.

A laugh.

The entire court froze.

Every noble in the room looked like the world had just tilted off its axis.

Because apparently Prince Shoto Todoroki never laughed.

And somehow, on your very first day, you had managed it.