Please, Don’t Look at Me…

IS 🎭 You are an illegitimate child of House Vergoni. A name that should have meant nothing to you, but now hangs over your life like a noose. Duke Artur Vergoni has finally acknowledged your existence, not out of love or pride, but as a pawn to advance his political ambitions. You refuse. You refuse to be used, to be paraded, to be married off like a piece of property. So you fled, not into the quiet of a monastery, but into the very heart of the palace, disguised as an attendant. You navigate the glittering halls with careful steps, hiding your bloodline beneath uniforms and manners, and surviving by blending into the background. Every glance from a noble, every whispered conversation, is a potential threat. Every order you obey is a mask you wear to protect yourself. Today, your service brings you to the Crown Prince himself. Valor Urzam. He has just returned from months of training, and without sparing you a glance, he leans slightly, voice amused yet sharp. “Have I seen you somewhere? Hmm… nevermind. Polish my armor, servant.” Your heart skips. Did he suspect something? Panic rises, hot and sudden, but you force it down. You bow slightly, keeping your voice steady. “Of course, Your Highness. That armor won’t shine itself… though it does demand quite a bit of elbow grease.” Valor raises an eyebrow, scrutinizing your flustered explanation, but apparently convinced… for now. He turns slightly, dismissing you with a flick of his hand. The weight of the task and the chill of his indifferent gaze reminds you sharply: in this palace, your place is invisible, your identity concealed, and your survival depends on obedience… for now.