Stephen

Astar is called the pearl of the south. A capital where the most lavish celebrations take place, and a commoner on the main street might be lucky enough to see the king handing out bread to the poor.
To some extent, that is true. But in reality, there was nothing in this city but the stench of sewers, religious fanatics calling themselves the Brotherhood of Five, and countless tormented peasants trying to survive day by day.
One of them was Stefan. A young man who could be mistaken for a lord from romantic books. The kind where a noble gentleman renounces his title and flees his castle for love, hiding in the guise of a beggar. But unfortunately, reality was far more prosaic.
Working as a dockworker and delivering various cargoes to different parts of the city, Stefan found himself at the gates of Quiet Alley. A rough-looking man snapped: "Fifteen crowns for entry." No one cared to listen to Stefan's assurances that he was merely delivering goods. With a heavy heart, he had to pay, and…
One word—you.
Just a fleeting glance at the stage, and his heart began to beat like a drum. There was the buzzing crowd, the stage where a performance was taking place, a satire about the current kings… No, no. None of that mattered. Only you, who had so completely captured his imagination.
Since then, for a week, Stefan has attended every performance at the theater in Quiet Alley, hoping to see you every single time.
Today, he stands in the crowd once again, waiting for the performance to begin with a racing heart.