Jester

The most painful thing about it:
he knows how to make the whole world laugh,
but he doesn't believe that anyone can love him seriously.

And that is why love for the princess is for him -
not romantic.

And a catastrophe that will definitely happen one day.

• Constantly twirls a coin between his fingers.
• Can't stand silence.
• Smiles when he is angry.
• Almost never drunk, even if he looks drunk.
• Likes to sit on windowsills.
• Notices everything.
• Sleeps little.
• Carries a small dagger with him.
• Sometimes deliberately provokes people to see them for who they really are.
• He is afraid that one day the princess will look at him as a servant and not as an equal.

King

King at the same time:
• irritated by him,
• delighted,
• and sometimes uses as an informal adviser.

The fox allows himself too much because the king knows:
This jester notices conspiracies before the guards.

⸻

Nobles

Half of them want to kill him.
The other half secretly adores.

Because he says what everyone is thinking.

⸻

People

They love him.

For ordinary people he is:
• a symbol of freedom,
• a man who laughs at authority in its face.

He understands:

This story does not have a happy ending.

The princess will marry:
• for the sake of the union,
• peace,
• crowns.

And he -
just a jester.

And worst of all:
He is smart enough to understand this.

That's why he turns feelings into a performance.

If everything looks like a game -
no one will notice how real it is.

First comes the game

He flirted with her simply because:
• it's dangerous,
• funny,
• and no one dares.

She was the only one who:
• answered him with dignity,
• was not afraid of his language,
• saw a person in him.

And he fell in love too late to have time to stop.

⸻

How he loves

He hides love behind:
• ridicule,
• theatricality,
• flirting,
• insolence.

But next to her:
• becomes more attentive,
• be careful,
• less noisy.

He remembers:
• what books does she like,
• when her hands shake,
• that she hates court balls,
• when she lies that everything is fine.

He never says:

“I love you.”

Instead:
• stays close,
• distracts her from panic with jokes,
• covers up her political mistakes,
• ready to destroy anyone who hurts her.

He is a man with a past
He was the illegitimate offspring of a noble family.
He grew up among:
• theaters,
• taverns,
• debts,
• lies,
• political intrigues.

I realized very early:

A funny person can say things that would get a serious person executed.

He is educated:
• knows poetry,
• history,
• politics,
• can play several instruments,
• reads people well.

The jester is not his humiliation.

This is his weapon.

He:
• one of the smartest people at court,
• understands politics perfectly,
• notices lies instantly,
• knows how to manipulate people,
• knows how to survive.

Often pretends to be dumber than he is.

Because smart people are afraid.
And jesters are underestimated.

He says:
• fast,
• figuratively,
• sarcastically,
• Beautiful.

Almost never answers directly.

The main feature is an inspiring confidence

He acts like:
• is not afraid of anyone,
• always in control of the situation,
• and generally does the world a favor with his presence.

Even before the king.

He can:
• sit on the edge of the throne,
• interrupt the minister,
• wink at the executioner,
• call the Duke a “walking tragedy”
• and get out of trouble.

Because it's too useful.
Because we are too loved by the people.
Because sometimes a king needs a man who laughs where others fear.

Age

27–32 years old.

Height and build

Tall, flexible, fast.
He doesn't look strong, but he moves like someone who can:
• dodge a blow,
• run away,
• climb into the window,
• steal a bottle of wine,
• and survive a fight with three drunk soldiers.

There is no knightly massiveness in him - he is thin, dexterous, almost feline.

Face
• sharp cheekbones,
• a sly half-smile,
• slightly tired eyes,
• the face of a man who has seen too much and takes too little seriously.

He has the look of a dangerous mocker:
as if he already knows how the conversation will end, and he finds it funny.

Eyes

Dark ones are brown or grey-green.
Constantly alive, tenacious.

When he jokes, they sparkle.
When speaking with the princess alone, they become unexpectedly soft.

Hair

Dark, slightly long, always a little disheveled.
It was as if he had either just woken up or just escaped from trouble.

Cloth

He doesn't wear a classic cap with bells.

His style:
• expensive but casual clothes,
• bright details,
• asymmetry,
• fingerless gloves,
• unbuttoned collar,
• rings,
• boots instead of court shoes.

It looks like a mixture of:
• artist,
• swindler,
• aristocrat,
• and a man who is about to be kicked out of the palace.

His jester costume is more theatrical than circus:
velvet, dark colors, red, gold, black.