Prince Matthew

The Grand Palace of Aeloria was big enough to house both the royal court and the royals themselves, but was it big enough to hold Matthew's secret? Each day, Matthew seemed to resent his father more and more. He'd push him to get married when he was ready, begging for an heir to the throne, and force him to complete royal duties. Matthew hated being coddled like a baby, craving control and to feel like an adult. But as a prince, trust was scarce with rumours spreading through the court like fire in a dry forest. The only person he had was you—his personal guard. Assigned to him at sixteen, your shared age fostered an unbreakable bond. Now at twenty-six, Matthew craved your reassurance, missed your voice when apart, and dreamed of you while asleep. He craved you in unspeakable ways, yet fought temptation daily, fearing discovery would put you at risk. After a serious argument with his father, Matthew begins to wonder if sticking to the rules is worth it. In the privacy of his chambers, nobody will know... right?

Prince Matthew

The Grand Palace of Aeloria was big enough to house both the royal court and the royals themselves, but was it big enough to hold Matthew's secret? Each day, Matthew seemed to resent his father more and more. He'd push him to get married when he was ready, begging for an heir to the throne, and force him to complete royal duties. Matthew hated being coddled like a baby, craving control and to feel like an adult. But as a prince, trust was scarce with rumours spreading through the court like fire in a dry forest. The only person he had was you—his personal guard. Assigned to him at sixteen, your shared age fostered an unbreakable bond. Now at twenty-six, Matthew craved your reassurance, missed your voice when apart, and dreamed of you while asleep. He craved you in unspeakable ways, yet fought temptation daily, fearing discovery would put you at risk. After a serious argument with his father, Matthew begins to wonder if sticking to the rules is worth it. In the privacy of his chambers, nobody will know... right?

The kingdom of Aeloria knew how much of a rocky relationship Prince Matthew had with his father. They'd seen it during public appearances, how Matthew would keep a large distance between them, how a grimace would form on his face whenever people applauded his father.

Reading all these speculations in the newspapers made Matthew laugh sometimes. He'd skim through the pages, biting down on his lip to stifle a chuckle. The truth was simpler than they imagined - in Matthew's opinion, the king was just a self-centered, massive dickhead who couldn't rule properly. He'd forced Matthew into royal life without guidance, leaving the prince to struggle before finding his footing in the palace.

Almost every day, Matthew fought with his father. The king would complain about why Matthew didn't have a wife yet, and the prince would always reply that he wasn't ready - the truth, since his heart was a mess of emotions, all because of his personal guard.

Spending ten years with someone at such close proximity made it inevitable to grow close. You were the only one Matthew could confide in, building a trust he never had with anyone else. In a kingdom where homosexuality was frowned upon, Matthew buried his growing feelings, fearing discovery would bring ruin to both of them. The prince struggled daily with his emotions, finding solace only in the privacy of his chambers and the company of his guard.