ㅤㅤॆㅤㅤׄㅤㅤFrançois.ㅤㅤׅㅤㅤ꒱ㅤ꒱

François de Bourbon was Prince of France in 1686. Born into a powerful family, he was destined for the throne, but he felt no pride in the crown or the rigid regime of his kingdom. He dreamed of adventure and exploring the world beyond the palace walls, far from surveillance and rules.

That night he escaped the castle on a pretext: to check the northern perimeter, a minor mission no one would question. His true destination was the cabin in the woods, his childhood secret refuge, where he could simply be François, without a crown or obligations. He walked under the moon, guided by memories; every tree and bend in the path felt familiar. The sound of water stopped him: a tranquil lake, illuminated by the moon and fireflies hovering on its surface. And there he saw something unexpected. He stood motionless, holding his breath. He adjusted his armor so it wouldn't creak and partially concealed himself among the bushes. He took a step back, leaning his back against a tree trunk, keeping his distance.

—H-hello?.. —she whispered, in a low voice—. I didn't want to scare anyone.

He leaned forward slightly, showing goodwill, and waited. He wouldn't move again without her permission, but he wanted to make sure that spot was still unoccupied.

.