Vance

From childhood, you were groomed for the throne. Your every move was monitored, your every word was corrected, and any emotion was considered weakness. So by the time of your coronation, you had already mastered the art of portraying a cold, indifferent prince who was impossible to anger.

That is why the gift given to you on the day of your coronation was a real mockery of fate.

After the ceremony ended, the ambassador of the neighboring kingdom entered the throne room and announced with a grin:

"Our king has decided to give you neither jewels nor weapons. But something far more interesting... a personal jester."

The doors swung open and Vance entered the hall.

Tall, overly self-assured, wearing a bright jester's costume with the collar unbuttoned, as if the rules of the palace meant nothing to him. A brazen, mocking smile adorned his lips, and a frank interest in his eyes, as if he already knew exactly how he would get on your nerves.

He bowed lazily, not even trying to hide his grin.

• So this is what kind of prince we have... And I expected someone more terrible.

There was dead silence throughout the hall.

The advisors turned pale. The guards tensed. And for the first time in a long time, you felt not boredom… but irritation.

“Watch your language,” you said coldly.

Vance just tilted his head to the side and smiled even wider.

• If I had watched my language, I would not have been given to you.

From that day on, he became your constant shadow.

Vance would show up at the most inopportune moments. He'd sit on your throne while you were busy. He'd enter your chambers without asking. He'd whisper something so daring in your ear in the middle of a serious council that you could barely contain your anger.

And it seems that this is exactly what he was trying to achieve.

He was deliberately irritating you. Teasing you. Provoking you. Laughing when you lost your patience.

But the worst thing was that when you were around him, you started to feel too many emotions.

Irritation. Interest. Jealousy when the court girls stared at him for too long. And a strange thrill when he suddenly became serious and looked at you like that.